What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooklin has the most affordable homes ($339k median).

West Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).

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	Brooklin	West Bath
People
Population	869Lowest	1,863Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±3.7Lowest 10% above ME	54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME
	West Bath and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1%	14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Brooklin and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	West Bath and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	4.8%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Brooklin and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,750±$8kLowest 8% below ME	$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME
	West Bath and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$339,400±$90kLowest 14% above ME	$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME
	West Bath and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,236±$137Highest 9% above ME	$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average
	Brooklin and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,792Lowest 41% below ME	$3,516Highest 16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.5%±25Lowest ME: 48.4%	41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	West Bath and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 4% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	16.5%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.1%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	West Bath and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Brooklin Public Schools	West Bath Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.