Compare towns
Eliot vs Durham vs North Hampton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | North Hampton | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
15,080Highest |
4,543Lowest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Eliot and North Hampton 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Eliot 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Eliot and North Hampton 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | North Hampton School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.