What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bath	Salem
People
Population	8,815Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S.	39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Salem and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem 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.	$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Salem 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±$30kLowest 7% below U.S.	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S.	$6,114Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.3%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem 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%	12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 42 yrs older than U.S.	1938 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem 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	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 01 - LKRSU	Salem
High school in town	Morse High School	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.