Compare towns
South Eliot vs Kennebunk vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 Eliot | Kennebunk | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203 |
11,820Highest |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newington and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292 53% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$6,081Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 21 | Newington School District |
| High school in town | — | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.