Compare towns

Eliot vs Needham vs Ogunquit 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

Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).

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.

MeasureEliotNeedhamOgunquitKittery
People
Population
7,146
32,459Highest
1,379Lowest
10,473
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit 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%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham 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.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
—
$1,716±$224Lowest
21% above U.S.
Needham 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$4,518
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham 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%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
15% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Needham 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 #19 of 282 in MA — #17 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Needham — Kittery Public Schools
High school in town None in town Needham High — Robert W Traip Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.9Highest
—
9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.