Compare towns

Kittery vs Newfields vs Dover vs Saco

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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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.

MeasureKitteryNewfieldsDoverSaco
People
Population
10,473
2,023Lowest
33,364Highest
20,819
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±2.3Highest
20% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
Kittery and Saco 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%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
Newfields and Dover 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%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%Lowest
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%
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Dover 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.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$413,100±$17kLowest
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,249±$385Lowest
12% below U.S.
Newfields and Kittery 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.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$4,807
54% 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%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Saco and Dover 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 min
14% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 — #64 of 120 in NH #38 of 133 in ME
School district Kittery Public Schools Newfields School District Dover School District Saco Public Schools
High school in town Robert W Traip Academy None in town Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
—
12.7Highest
—
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.