What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

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	Dalton
People
Population	8,815Highest	6,256Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.4±3Lowest 17% above U.S.	49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S.
	Dalton 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%	20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dalton 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%	27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dalton 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%	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bath and Dalton 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.	$79,438±$8kHighest about the U.S. average
	Dalton 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.	$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Bath and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$116Highest 26% below U.S.	$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Bath and Dalton 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.	$4,276Highest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bath and Dalton 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%	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1957Highest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bath and Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 01 - LKRSU	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Morse High School	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	10.9Lowest
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.