Compare towns
Jackson vs Kittery vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% 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 | Jackson | Kittery | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897Lowest |
10,473Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% 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 | $719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below 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 | $6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Jackson School District | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.