What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).

West Bath has the most affordable homes ($423k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Auburn	West Bath
People
Population	6,119Highest	1,863Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S.	54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S.
	West Bath and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Auburn and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Auburn and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S.	$103,333±$27kLowest 28% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S.	$422,800±$102kLowest 27% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S.	$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Auburn and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,092Highest 159% above U.S.	$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.1%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	West Bath and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Auburn and West Bath 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	#44 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Auburn School District	West Bath Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.