Compare towns
Eliot vs Kittery vs Topsham vs Windham
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).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
10,473 |
9,706 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% 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% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%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% |
3.8%±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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% 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. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Windham 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% |
2%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% |
93.9%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. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Mt Ararat High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.2 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.