Compare towns
South Eliot vs Kittery vs Kennebunkport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Eliot has the most kids (15.2% under 18).
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Kennebunkport has the most expensive homes ($741k 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 | Kittery | Kennebunkport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203 |
10,473Highest |
3,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8 24% above ME |
46.8±2.3Lowest 4% above ME |
59.1±5Highest 32% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9 ME: 18.1% |
8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| South Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.8%±6.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
36.9%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunkport and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.9% ME: 36.2% |
46%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Kittery and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
$93,728±$14kLowest 25% above ME |
$102,747±$30kHighest 37% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52k 60% above ME |
$468,500±$31kLowest 58% above ME |
$740,500±$109kHighest 150% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,716±$224 51% above ME |
$1,429±$296Lowest 25% above ME |
| South Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442 46% above ME |
$4,518Highest 49% above ME |
$3,914Lowest 29% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
25.8%±20.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
67.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 16% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
34 minHighest 38% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
31.6%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunkport and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #42 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | — | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.