Compare towns
Canterbury vs Exeter 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
Canterbury has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Canterbury | Exeter | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,353Lowest |
16,151Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421 138% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Canterbury 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.