Compare towns
Bath vs Salem vs Woolwich
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Woolwich has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Salem | Woolwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815 |
44,795Highest |
3,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±5.5Lowest 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%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woolwich 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% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest 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±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$102,175±$26kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Woolwich and Salem 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. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$254,500±$59kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich and Salem 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% |
12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2Lowest 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 | #92 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Salem | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.