What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).

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	Dedham	West Bath
People
Population	1,656Lowest	1,863Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME	54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME
	West Bath and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%	14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	West Bath and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME	$103,333±$27kLowest 38% above ME
	Dedham and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME	$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME
	West Bath and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME	$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average
	Dedham and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,942Highest 30% above ME	$3,516Lowest 16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	West Bath and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983 6 yrs newer than ME	1983 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.1%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	West Bath and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Dedham 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.