Compare towns
Exeter vs Kittery vs Sumner vs Stetson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Kittery has the most expensive homes ($469k median).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Stetson has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Kittery | Sumner | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
10,473Highest |
845Lowest |
1,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
46.8±2.3 4% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
46%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Kittery and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$93,728±$14kHighest 25% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| Kittery and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$468,500±$31kHighest 58% above ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,716±$224Highest 51% above ME |
— | $800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$4,518Highest 49% above ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Kittery and Sumner 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | — | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.