Compare towns

Lee vs South Berwick vs Kittery

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 highest household income ($132k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

MeasureLeeSouth BerwickKittery
People
Population
4,576Lowest
7,670
10,473Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.9
10% above U.S.
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.8±2.3Highest
20% above 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%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Lee 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%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Highest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Lee and Kittery 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.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
Lee and South Berwick 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.
$428,300±$26kLowest
29% above U.S.
$468,500±$31k
41% 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 —
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
$1,716±$224Lowest
21% above U.S.
South Berwick and Kittery 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.
$4,956
59% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.3%±53.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
South Berwick 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%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
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 #58 of 133 in ME #17 of 133 in ME
School district Oyster River Coop School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Kittery Public Schools
High school in town None in town Marshwood High School Robert W Traip Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.0Highest
9.9Lowest
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.