Compare towns

Ellsworth vs Hooksett 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

Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
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.

MeasureEllsworthHooksettKittery
People
Population
8,657
5,876Lowest
10,473Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+27.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±2.4
11% above U.S.
42.6±2Lowest
10% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Highest
20% above U.S.
Kittery and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Ellsworth and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Kittery and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,375±$18kLowest
4% below U.S.
$101,053±$25kHighest
25% above U.S.
$93,728±$14k
16% above U.S.
Hooksett and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
$348,100±$32k
5% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kHighest
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,811±$283Highest
28% above U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
Hooksett and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
$4,960Highest
59% above U.S.
$4,518
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kittery and Hooksett 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 #63 of 133 in ME #30 of 120 in NH #17 of 133 in ME
School district Ellsworth Public Schools — Kittery Public Schools
High school in town Ellsworth High School — Robert W Traip Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
—
9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.