Compare towns
Eliot vs Canterbury vs Dover 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
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Eliot | Canterbury | Dover | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
2,353Lowest |
33,364Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.6±3.8 25% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canterbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$129,333±$37kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$443,700±$21k 33% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% 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 | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$7,421 138% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Shaker Regional School District | Dover School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.