Compare towns

Dover vs Kittery vs Wilmington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Kittery has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
Wilmington has the most affordable homes ($288k 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.

MeasureDoverKitteryWilmington
People
Population
1,466Lowest
10,473Highest
1,747
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+20.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.5±8.3
38% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Lowest
20% above U.S.
59.1±4.8Highest
52% above U.S.
Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.2%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
9.6%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Kittery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.5%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
32.6%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Kittery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
$93,728±$14kHighest
16% above U.S.
$70,000±$23k
13% below U.S.
Kittery and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$332,900±$55k
about the U.S. average
$468,500±$31kHighest
41% above U.S.
$287,700±$16kLowest
14% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$670±$49Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,716±$224Highest
21% above U.S.
$1,106±$95
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,510Lowest
45% above U.S.
$4,518
45% above U.S.
$5,299Highest
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±23Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wilmington and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
21 min
19% below U.S.
Work from home
23.2%±11.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover 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 — #17 of 133 in ME —
School district River Valleys Unified School District #73 Kittery Public Schools Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town None in town Robert W Traip Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.