Compare towns
Bath vs Bow vs West Bath vs Brewer
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.
| Measure | Bath | Bow | West Bath | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
8,335 |
1,863Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12k 14% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Bow and West Bath 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. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
| Bow and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,516 13% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Bow School District | West Bath Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Bow High School | None in town | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— | 14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.