Compare towns
Eliot vs Henniker vs Kittery vs Topsham
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).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Kittery | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
6,197Lowest |
10,473Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
44.7±4 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% |
15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 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% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Henniker 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. |
$356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% 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. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below 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. |
$8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Eliot 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Henniker School District | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.