Compare towns
Eliot vs Exeter vs Kittery vs Saco
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 homeowners (79.8%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k 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.
| Measure | Eliot | Exeter | Kittery | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
16,151 |
10,473 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% 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 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Saco 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Saco 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% 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±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kittery Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.