Compare towns
Kittery vs Portsmouth vs Somersworth vs Eliot
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).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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.
| Measure | Kittery | Portsmouth | Somersworth | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
22,545Highest |
12,111 |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Somersworth and Eliot 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% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Kittery 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% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Somersworth 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±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Eliot 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. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,477±$134Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Portsmouth 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. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth and Eliot 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Portsmouth School District | Somersworth School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Portsmouth High School | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
11.4Highest |
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| 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.