Compare towns
Stratham vs Kittery vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Stratham | Kittery | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754 |
10,473Highest |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kittery and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and South Berwick 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.