Compare towns
Kittery vs Williston vs Dummerston vs Ellsworth
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 oldest population (median age 46.8).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Williston | Dummerston | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473Highest |
10,144 |
2,090Lowest |
8,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Dummerston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Dummerston 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Ellsworth 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Williston and Dummerston 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Williston and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | — | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.