Compare towns
Eliot vs North Hampton vs Kittery vs Topsham
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).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | North Hampton | Kittery | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
4,543Lowest |
10,473Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest 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. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and North Hampton 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. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Topsham 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | North Hampton School District | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.