Compare towns

Holderness vs Kittery vs Ashland

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% 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.

MeasureHoldernessKitteryAshland
People
Population
1,917Lowest
10,473Highest
2,183
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±7.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.8±2.3Highest
20% above U.S.
42.3±11.2
9% above U.S.
Kittery and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ashland and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.4%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Holderness and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Kittery and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,863±$45kHighest
34% above U.S.
$93,728±$14k
16% above U.S.
$54,607±$9kLowest
32% below U.S.
Holderness and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,100±$60k
9% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kHighest
41% above U.S.
$227,000±$29kLowest
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$385Highest
46% above U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$1,096±$155Lowest
22% below U.S.
Holderness and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,923Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,518
45% above U.S.
$4,961Highest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
39.1%±14.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ashland and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
21.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #17 of 133 in ME —
School district Holderness School District Kittery Public Schools Ashland School District
High school in town None in town Robert W Traip Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9
—
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.