Compare towns
Bath vs Bedford vs West Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Bath | Bedford | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815 |
23,746Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Bath and Bath 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% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath 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 | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest 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 | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
13.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.