Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Kittery vs Pepperell
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).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Kittery | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Lowest |
10,473 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Ellsworth 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% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Kittery and Pepperell 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. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Pepperell 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.