Compare towns
Kittery vs Ogunquit vs Bedford 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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.
| Measure | Kittery | Ogunquit | Bedford | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
1,379Lowest |
23,746Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
— | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Bedford and Kittery 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Topsham 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as 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. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #17 of 133 in ME | — | #7 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | — | Bedford School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | — | Bedford High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.