What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).

Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Bath	Bethlehem
People
Population	8,815Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.4±3Lowest 17% above U.S.	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Bath 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%	17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bethlehem and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem 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%	45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S.	$85,029±$18kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$310,900±$30kHighest 7% below U.S.	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Bath and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S.
	Bethlehem and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S.	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bath and Bethlehem 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%	10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethlehem 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	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 01 - LKRSU	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Morse High School	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	8.9Lowest
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.