Compare towns
Newfields vs Kittery vs Topsham vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Newfields | Kittery | Topsham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
10,473 |
9,706 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Mt Ararat High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 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.