Compare towns
South Berwick vs Kennebunk vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | South Berwick | Kennebunk | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
11,820Highest |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
| South Eliot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| South Eliot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
49.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| South Berwick and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$99,299±$9kLowest 33% above ME |
| Kennebunk and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
$475,600±$52k 60% above ME |
| Kennebunk and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83 52% above ME |
$1,425±$290Lowest 25% above ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956 63% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$4,442Lowest 46% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 | — |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Kennebunk High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.