What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Columbia has the most homeowners (91.1%).

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	Columbia
People
Population	8,815Highest	683Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.4±3Lowest 17% above U.S.	51.8±10.1Highest 33% above U.S.
	Columbia 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%	17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Columbia 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%	29.9%±8.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Columbia 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Columbia and 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±$12kHighest 14% below U.S.	$57,917±$13kLowest 28% below U.S.
	Bath and Columbia 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.	$196,400±$29kLowest 41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$116Highest 26% below U.S.	$792±$333Lowest 44% below U.S.
	Bath and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Highest 23% above U.S.	$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	9.1%±95.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bath and Columbia 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%	10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer 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%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bath and Columbia 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	—
School district	RSU 01 - LKRSU	—
High school in town	Morse High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8	—
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.