Compare towns
Topsham vs Lancaster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
8,606Lowest |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Topsham 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Kittery 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Kittery 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #145 of 282 in MA | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Nashoba | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.