Compare towns
Bath vs Wells vs Ryegate
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Wells | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097 |
11,713Highest |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 25% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6Highest 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5Lowest 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% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below 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. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$908±$236Lowest 36% 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$3,472 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7Highest 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest 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.