Compare towns
Topsham vs Upton 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%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Upton | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
8,189Lowest |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Topsham 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Topsham 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Blackstone Valley | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.2 |
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.