Compare towns
Eliot vs Francestown vs Springfield 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%).
Francestown has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
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 | Francestown | Springfield | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,398 |
1,122Lowest |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5 32% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Francestown 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% |
19.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Francestown 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% |
21.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest 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% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Francestown 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. |
$104,063±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Francestown 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. |
$408,200±$34k 23% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% 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±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,358±$256 4% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kittery 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. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Francestown 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 | — | — | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.