Compare towns
Kittery vs Berlin vs Ellsworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Kittery | Berlin | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,473Highest |
3,378Lowest |
8,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest 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 | $93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,518 45% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Kittery 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Berlin-Boylston | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.


