Compare towns
Eliot vs Epping vs Dunbarton 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 oldest population (median age 50.8).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dunbarton has the highest household income ($124k).
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.
| Measure | Eliot | Epping | Dunbarton | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
7,430 |
3,097Lowest |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dunbarton 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Kittery 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Epping 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 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% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Epping School District | Dunbarton School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 9.9Highest |
| 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.