Compare towns
Bath vs Phippsburg 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Phippsburg has the highest household income ($108k).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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 | Phippsburg | Wolfeboro | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
2,238Lowest |
6,571 |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
54.3±6.3 40% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Phippsburg 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% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and 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% |
34.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Phippsburg 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% |
37.7% 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% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$107,833±$19kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Phippsburg 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. |
$335,800±$47k about the U.S. average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116 26% below U.S. |
$1,022±$346Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Brewer 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. |
$2,034Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.5%±98.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Bath 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% |
7.5%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% |
81.8%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. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 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. |
21 min 19% 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% |
11.7%±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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 01 - LKRSU | 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.