Compare towns

Wells vs Kittery vs Newington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).

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.

MeasureWellsKitteryNewington
People
Population
11,713Highest
10,473
939Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Lowest
20% above U.S.
48.7±10.1
25% above U.S.
Wells and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
Wells and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28%±11
U.S.: 17.2%
Wells and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
$93,728±$14k
16% above U.S.
$145,833±$46kHighest
81% above U.S.
Newington and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
$861,600±$46kHighest
159% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$2,292±$795Highest
62% above U.S.
Newington and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$4,518
45% above U.S.
$6,081Highest
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.9%±44Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Newington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
23 min
12% below U.S.
Work from home
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kittery and Wells 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 #22 of 133 in ME #17 of 133 in ME —
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD Kittery Public Schools Newington School District
High school in town Wells High School Robert W Traip Academy None in town
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.