Compare towns
Bath vs Keene vs West Bath
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
West Bath has the most expensive homes ($423k 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 | Keene | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815 |
22,939Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bath and West Bath 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$103,333±$27kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Keene 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. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| West Bath and 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. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
| Keene 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. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bath and Keene 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bath and West 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Keene School District | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.