Compare towns
Kittery vs Reading 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 most expensive homes ($469k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Reading | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,473Highest |
699Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Reading and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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±$14kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Kittery and Topsham 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.