Compare towns
South Eliot vs Lyme 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
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
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.
| Measure | South Eliot | Lyme | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203 |
1,710Lowest |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 |
| School district | — | Lyme School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school 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.