Compare towns

Bath vs Middlebury vs Rockland

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 homeowners (64.3%).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Rockland has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureBathMiddleburyRockland
People
Population
8,815Highest
7,220
7,035Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±3
17% above U.S.
23.7±1.3Lowest
39% below U.S.
49.3±6Highest
27% above U.S.
Rockland and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
8.5%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
25.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.4%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rockland 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
40.9%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,390±$12k
14% below U.S.
$86,250±$18kHighest
7% above U.S.
$56,533±$6kLowest
30% below U.S.
Middlebury 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±$30k
7% below U.S.
$417,400±$31kHighest
25% above U.S.
$245,800±$38kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$116Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,201±$120Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,092±$105
23% below U.S.
Middlebury and Rockland 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.
$6,795Highest
118% above U.S.
$4,059
30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.3%±15.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.6%±15.8
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rockland and Middlebury 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%
15.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
56.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
62%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1948
32 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
15 min
45% below U.S.
12 minLowest
53% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.1%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rockland 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 #17 of 70 in VT #96 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU — Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13
High school in town Morse High School — Oceanside High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
—
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 photos → 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.