Compare towns
Eliot vs Lebanon vs Newington 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).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Kittery has the oldest housing (typical home built 1965).
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 | Lebanon | Newington | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
14,999Highest |
939Lowest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Newington 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% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 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% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% 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. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% 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. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest 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% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lebanon School District | Newington School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
— | 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.