Compare towns
Auburn vs Kittery vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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 | Auburn | Kittery | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119 |
10,473Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19k 76% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
— |
| Auburn and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Kittery and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Kittery Public Schools | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.