Compare towns

Eliot vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).

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.

MeasureEliotNorthfieldKittery
People
Population
7,146
5,920Lowest
10,473Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
Eliot and Kittery 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%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Eliot and Kittery 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%
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,522±$10kHighest
26% above U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
$93,728±$14k
16% above U.S.
Eliot and Kittery 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.
$274,400±$21kLowest
18% below U.S.
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
Eliot and Kittery 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.
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northfield and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
15% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kittery and Eliot 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 #42 of 70 in VT #17 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Kittery Public Schools
High school in town None in town Northfield Middle/High School Robert W Traip Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0Highest
9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.