Compare towns

Bath vs Stratham vs Ellsworth

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 oldest population (median age 45.4).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

MeasureBathStrathamEllsworth
People
Population
8,815Highest
7,754Lowest
8,657
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±3Highest
17% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
43±2.4
11% above U.S.
Bath and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Ellsworth 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%
20.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bath and Ellsworth 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%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Bath and Ellsworth 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.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
$77,375±$18k
4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$310,900±$30k
7% below U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$116
26% below U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847
23% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.3%±15.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±15.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Ellsworth 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
66.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham 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 #43 of 120 in NH #63 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town Morse High School None in town Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
—
12.7Lowest
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.