Compare towns

Ellsworth vs Kittery vs White River Junction

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 expensive homes ($469k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).

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.

MeasureEllsworthKitteryWhite River Junction
People
Population
8,657
10,473Highest
3,364Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±2.4
11% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Highest
20% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below 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%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5
U.S.: 22%
Ellsworth and White River Junction 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%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
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±$18k
4% below U.S.
$93,728±$14kHighest
16% above U.S.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
Kittery and Ellsworth 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.
$468,500±$31kHighest
41% above U.S.
$278,800±$78k
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,716±$224Highest
21% above U.S.
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
$4,518
45% above U.S.
$5,651Highest
81% 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%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and White River Junction 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%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
7% below U.S.
20 min
24% below U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Kittery and White River Junction 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 Kittery Public Schools —
High school in town Ellsworth High School Robert W Traip Academy —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
9.9Lowest
—
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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.