Compare towns
Kittery vs Newfields vs Stratham vs Topsham
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).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Newfields | Stratham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473Highest |
2,023Lowest |
7,754 |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Topsham 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Topsham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Topsham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Topsham 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. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% 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% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | — | 12.2Highest |
| 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.