Compare towns
Topsham vs Exeter 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
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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.
| Measure | Topsham | Exeter | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Lowest |
16,151Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% 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 | 19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest 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+ | 50% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Exeter 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 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Exeter High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
12.1 |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.