Compare towns
Eliot vs Hanover vs Kittery vs Lee
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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Kittery | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
11,685Highest |
10,473 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Lee 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. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
— |
| Hanover and Eliot 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Kittery Public Schools | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.