Compare towns
Kittery vs Hampton vs South Eliot 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
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
South Eliot has the highest household income ($99k).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Kittery | Hampton | South Eliot | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
16,426Highest |
4,203Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
55.5±8 43% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Hampton and South Eliot 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and South Eliot 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% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Hampton 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% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest 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 | $93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Hampton 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| South Eliot 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. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,442 42% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Winnacunnet High School | — | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
10.1 |
— | 12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.