Compare towns
South Hampton vs Plaistow 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 Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 Hampton | Plaistow | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
7,861 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kittery and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and South Hampton 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.