Compare towns

Bath vs Ryegate vs Wells

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 (26 min average).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).

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.

MeasureBathRyegateWells
People
Population
1,097
1,059Lowest
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.6±8.6
25% above U.S.
41.2±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
Wells and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Ryegate and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wells and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wells and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,813±$22k
16% below U.S.
$66,484±$15kLowest
18% below U.S.
$88,024±$11kHighest
9% above U.S.
Wells and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$234,400±$23k
30% below U.S.
$219,300±$32kLowest
34% below U.S.
$485,300±$23kHighest
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,438±$309Highest
about the U.S. average
$908±$236Lowest
36% below U.S.
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
Bath and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,413Highest
41% above U.S.
$3,472
11% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
5.9%±61.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±29.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Ryegate and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1949Lowest
31 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
8.2%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wells 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 — — #22 of 133 in ME
School district Bath School District — Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town None in town — Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4
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.