Compare towns
Eliot vs Keene vs Topsham 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 the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Keene | Topsham | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
22,939Highest |
9,706 |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kittery 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. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% 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. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% 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. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Keene 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% |
10.1%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% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Keene School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Mt Ararat High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
12.2 |
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.