Compare towns
Kensington vs Kittery vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Kensington | Kittery | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009 |
10,473Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Kittery and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47k 98% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Kittery and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Kensington 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 | Kensington School District | Kittery Public Schools | South Hampton 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.