Compare towns
Kittery vs Jackson vs South Eliot
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
South Eliot has the most kids (15.2% 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 | Jackson | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,473Highest |
897Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
55.5±8 43% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
| Jackson and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Jackson 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. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Kittery 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Jackson School District | — |
| 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.