Compare towns

Kittery vs New Castle vs Newfields vs Portsmouth

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 affordable homes ($469k median).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Newfields has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).

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 CastleNewfieldsPortsmouth
People
Population
10,473
827Lowest
2,023
22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
62.8±6Highest
61% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
42.9±2Lowest
10% above U.S.
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
12.9%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
Newfields 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%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2.4
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
68.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
64%
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%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
$176,953±$29k
119% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$106,219±$7k
32% above U.S.
Newfields and New Castle 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.
$1,701,300±$267kHighest
411% above U.S.
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$688,500±$39k
107% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,716±$224Lowest
21% above U.S.
$3,501Highest
148% above U.S.
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$1,869±$111
32% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
$8,509
173% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$8,018
157% 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%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
50.4%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Portsmouth and Newfields 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
93%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
22 min
16% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
40.1%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
New Castle and Newfields 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 — — #11 of 120 in NH
School district Kittery Public Schools New Castle School District Newfields School District Portsmouth School District
High school in town Robert W Traip Academy None in town None in town Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
— —
11.4Highest
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.