Compare towns
Kittery vs Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Wilmot
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).
Newmarket has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Wilmot has the most homeowners (83.4%).
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 | Newmarket | Portsmouth | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
9,463 |
22,545Highest |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
53±2.4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilmot and Newmarket 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% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Wilmot 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% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newmarket 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. |
$100,845±$13k 25% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$117,759±$15kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Wilmot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22k 37% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$399,600±$43kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,125±$289Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Portsmouth 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. |
$8,734Highest 180% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$6,651 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Portsmouth 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District | — |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
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.