What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).

West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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	Canterbury	West Bath
People
Population	2,353Highest	1,863Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±3.8Lowest 25% above U.S.	54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S.
	West Bath and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Canterbury and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	West Bath and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Canterbury 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	$129,333±$37kHighest 60% above U.S.	$103,333±$27kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Canterbury and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$443,700±$21kHighest 33% above U.S.	$422,800±$102kLowest 27% above U.S.
	Canterbury and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S.	$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,421Highest 138% above U.S.	$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Canterbury and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Canterbury and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Shaker Regional School District	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

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.