Compare towns
Eliot vs Kittery vs Bow
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).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Kittery | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
10,473Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% 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% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Kittery 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. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Bow and Eliot 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. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Bow 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Kittery Public Schools | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.