Compare towns
Bath vs Thornton 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
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Kittery has the most expensive homes ($469k 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 | Bath | Thornton | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815 |
2,799Lowest |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Bath and Kittery 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Thornton 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. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Thornton 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. |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Bath 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% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Thornton School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| 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.