Compare towns

New Castle vs Hampstead 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

New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureNew CastleHampsteadKittery
People
Population
827Lowest
9,102
10,473Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.8±6Highest
61% above U.S.
45.3±6.1Lowest
16% above U.S.
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
Kids under 18
12.9%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
New Castle and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Hampstead and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$176,953±$29kHighest
119% above U.S.
$112,348±$18k
39% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,701,300±$267kHighest
411% above U.S.
$521,100±$45k
57% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,501Highest
148% above U.S.
$1,299±$149Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,509
173% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±85.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±20.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampstead and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
40.1%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
New Castle 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 — #49 of 120 in NH #17 of 133 in ME
School district New Castle School District Hampstead School District Kittery Public Schools
High school in town None in town None in town Robert W Traip Academy
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.