Compare towns
Eliot vs Kittery vs Topsham 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 the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Topsham | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
10,473Highest |
9,706 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest 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. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 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%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%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% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and Eliot 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±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington 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. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,081Highest 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% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| 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.