Compare towns
Bath vs Eliot vs Wolfeboro 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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Brewer has the most kids (20.9% 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.
| Measure | Bath | Eliot | Wolfeboro | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
7,146 |
6,571Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Eliot 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% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Eliot 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer 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±$12k 14% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Eliot 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. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$4,549Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Eliot 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #46 of 120 in NH | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
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.