Compare towns
Bath vs Rockland vs Thornton
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 youngest population (median age 45.4).
Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Rockland | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815Highest |
7,035 |
2,799Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
49.3±6 27% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Rockland 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% |
15.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest 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% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Thornton 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. |
$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$90,022±$17kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Thornton 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. |
$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Thornton 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. |
$1,092±$105 23% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Thornton 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. |
$4,059 30% above U.S. |
$5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Rockland 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% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
62%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1948 32 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
12 minLowest 53% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.1%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Rockland 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 | #96 of 133 in ME | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Oceanside High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.