What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dayton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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	Dayton	West Bath
People
Population	2,313Highest	1,863Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME	54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME
Kids under 18	20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dayton and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	4.8%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dayton 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	$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME	$103,333±$27kLowest 38% above ME
	Dayton and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,200±$34kLowest 34% above ME	$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME
	West Bath and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$867Highest 7% above ME	$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average
	Dayton and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,872Highest 28% above ME	$3,516Lowest 16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	West Bath and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 26% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.1%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	West Bath and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Dayton 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.