Compare towns
Kittery vs Hampton Beach vs Saco
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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Saco has the most kids (16.7% 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 | Kittery | Hampton Beach | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,473 |
2,605Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco 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±$14kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Kittery and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | — | Saco Public Schools |
| High school 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.