Compare towns
Lee vs Kittery vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Lee | Kittery | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
10,473 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kittery and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Lee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Lee and Kittery 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. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Kittery Public Schools | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.