Compare towns

Kittery vs Newfields vs Bedford

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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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.

MeasureKitteryNewfieldsBedford
People
Population
10,473
2,023Lowest
23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±2.3Highest
20% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
45±2.2
16% above U.S.
Kittery and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Kittery and Bedford 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%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Bedford 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.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$167,418±$12k
107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$612,100±$26k
84% above U.S.
Newfields and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,716±$224Lowest
21% above U.S.
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
Bedford and Newfields 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,803
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
59.4%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bedford and Newfields 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1990
10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
4% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bedford 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 — #7 of 120 in NH
School district Kittery Public Schools Newfields School District Bedford School District
High school in town Robert W Traip Academy None in town Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
—
13.5Highest
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.