Compare towns
Eliot vs Lee vs Kittery 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%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Lee | Kittery | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
4,576 |
10,473Highest |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 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% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and Lee 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. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% 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. |
$2,292±$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. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Kittery Public Schools | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.