Compare towns

Appleton vs West Bath vs Woolwich

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
West Bath has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
Woolwich has the most homeowners (95.5%).

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.

MeasureAppletonWest BathWoolwich
People
Population
1,360Lowest
1,863
3,158Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+1.8%
ME: +2.6%
-0.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.2±7.4Lowest
10% above ME
54.2±5.6
21% above ME
55.8±5.5Highest
25% above ME
Woolwich and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±2.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
14.7%±4.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
15%±5.5
ME: 18.1%
Appleton and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±9.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
29.4%±4.2
ME: 22.4%
33.9%±8.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
Woolwich and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
50.7%
ME: 36.2%
52.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
4.8%±2.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
West Bath and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$103,333±$27kHighest
38% above ME
$102,175±$26k
37% above ME
West Bath and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$235,600±$33kLowest
21% below ME
$422,800±$102kHighest
43% above ME
$254,500±$59k
14% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82Lowest
3% below ME
$1,112±$327Highest
about the ME average
—
West Bath and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$3,516
16% above ME
$2,433Lowest
20% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
41.1%±26.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
64.3%±100
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.7%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
13.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
82.3%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
95.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
23% above ME
21 minLowest
16% below ME
29 min
20% above ME
Work from home
11.1%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
17.1%±6.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.9%±6.2
ME: 15.9%
West Bath and Woolwich 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 — — #92 of 133 in ME
School district Appleton Public Schools West Bath Public Schools RSU 01 - LKRSU
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

ME 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.