Compare towns

Kittery vs North Hampton vs Keene

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

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.

MeasureKitteryNorth HamptonKeene
People
Population
10,473
4,543Lowest
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
50.5±3.3Highest
30% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
North Hampton and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
North Hampton and Kittery 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%
26%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Kittery and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,728±$14k
16% above U.S.
$146,458±$29kHighest
81% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
$670,400±$61kHighest
102% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$1,805±$106Highest
28% above U.S.
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
North Hampton 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.
$8,529Highest
173% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Keene and Kittery 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%
2.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
24% below U.S.
25 minHighest
7% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Hampton 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 #12 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH
School district Kittery Public Schools North Hampton School District Keene School District
High school in town Robert W Traip Academy None in town Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
—
12.3Highest
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.