Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Ellsworth | Jackson | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
897Lowest |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Kittery 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% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Kittery 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. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Jackson 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Jackson School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.