Compare towns
Eliot vs Nelson vs South Eliot 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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.
| Measure | Eliot | Nelson | South Eliot | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
648Lowest |
4,203 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Eliot 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Nelson School District | — | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.