Compare towns
Eliot vs Pembroke vs Topsham 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 the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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.
| Measure | Eliot | Pembroke | Topsham | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
7,438 |
9,706 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pembroke and Topsham 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% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 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% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 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±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above 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. |
$371,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above 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. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% 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. |
$7,589Highest 143% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Pembroke School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | Mt Ararat High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.2 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.