Compare towns
Bath vs Kittery vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Bath | Kittery | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815 |
10,473Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bath and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Kittery Public Schools | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.