Compare towns
Eliot vs Kittery vs Stratham vs Newington
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%).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | Stratham | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
10,473Highest |
7,754 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Newington 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham 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% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Stratham 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newington 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. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795 62% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newington 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. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Newington 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 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 |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Kittery Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.