Compare towns

Bath vs Marblehead 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 the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureBathMarbleheadWest Bath
People
Population
8,815
20,413Highest
1,863Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±3Lowest
17% above U.S.
49.1±2
26% above U.S.
54.2±5.6Highest
39% above U.S.
West Bath and Marblehead 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%
22.3%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
25.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±2.5Lowest
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%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Bath and West 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±$12kLowest
14% below U.S.
$182,132±$28kHighest
126% above U.S.
$103,333±$27k
28% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$310,900±$30kLowest
7% below U.S.
$943,900±$31kHighest
184% above U.S.
$422,800±$102k
27% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$116Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,764±$147Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,112±$327
21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847
23% above U.S.
$8,309Highest
166% above U.S.
$3,516Lowest
13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.3%±15.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.5%±8.8
U.S.: 51.1%
41.1%±26.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bath and Marblehead 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%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1944
36 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
21 minLowest
22% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
34%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #31 of 133 in ME #47 of 282 in MA —
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Marblehead West Bath Public Schools
High school in town Morse High School Marblehead High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
10.7Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.