Compare towns
Bath vs Saco vs Exeter 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).
Saco has the youngest population (median age 44.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Saco | Exeter | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
20,819Highest |
16,151 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Saco 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% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 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% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
| Exeter and West 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. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Saco 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Saco Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 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.