What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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	Bath	Bedford
People
Population	8,815Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S.	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Bath and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bath and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bath and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S.	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.3%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bedford and 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	#31 of 133 in ME	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 01 - LKRSU	Bedford School District
High school in town	Morse High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	13.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.