Compare towns

Deerfield vs Eliot 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

Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).

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.

MeasureDeerfieldEliotKittery
People
Population
4,932Lowest
7,146
10,473Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±4.2Lowest
10% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Deerfield and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.5%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Kittery and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$131,563±$10kHighest
63% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$421,000±$33kLowest
27% above U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,593±$318Lowest
13% above U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,369Highest
136% above U.S.
$4,549
46% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.4%±17.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 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
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
22.4%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kittery and Deerfield 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 #61 of 120 in NH #19 of 133 in ME #17 of 133 in ME
School district Deerfield School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Kittery Public Schools
High school in town None in town None in town Robert W Traip Academy
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.