Compare towns
Bath vs Rye vs Rockland 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 youngest population (median age 45.4).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Rockland has the shortest commute (12 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.
| Measure | Bath | Rye | Rockland | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815Highest |
5,611 |
7,035 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
49.3±6 27% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
| Rye and West Bath 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% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and West 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 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±$12k 14% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| Rye and West 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,092±$105 23% below U.S. |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,059 30% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rockland and Bath 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1948 32 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
12 minLowest 53% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.1%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #96 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Rye School District | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | None in town | Oceanside High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.