Compare towns

Kittery vs New Castle 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).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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.

MeasureKitteryNew CastleEllsworth
People
Population
10,473Highest
827Lowest
8,657
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
62.8±6Highest
61% above U.S.
43±2.4Lowest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
12.9%±7.1Lowest
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%
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
New Castle 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%
68.8%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%
0.6%±1.8Lowest
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.
$176,953±$29kHighest
119% above U.S.
$77,375±$18kLowest
4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
$1,701,300±$267kHighest
411% above U.S.
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$3,501Highest
148% above U.S.
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,518
45% above U.S.
$8,509Highest
173% above U.S.
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±85.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth 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%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
93%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
40.1%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
New Castle 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 — #63 of 133 in ME
School district Kittery Public Schools New Castle School District 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 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.