Compare towns
Eliot vs Hampton vs Kittery vs Lyme
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%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Hampton | Kittery | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
16,426Highest |
10,473 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Eliot 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Eliot 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% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Lyme 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Hampton 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. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Kittery Public Schools | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Highest |
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.