Compare towns
Bath vs Salem vs Brewer vs Kittery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Kittery has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Salem | Brewer | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815Lowest |
44,795Highest |
9,652 |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% 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% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12k 14% below U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Salem and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #32 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Salem | Brewer Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Salem High | Brewer High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
14.0 |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.