What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).

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	Deerfield	West Bath
People
Population	4,932Highest	1,863Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±4.2Lowest 10% above U.S.	54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%	14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Deerfield and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	West Bath and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,563±$10kHighest 63% above U.S.	$103,333±$27kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Deerfield and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$421,000±$33kLowest 27% above U.S.	$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S.
	West Bath and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,593±$318Highest 13% above U.S.	$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Deerfield and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,369Highest 136% above U.S.	$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.4%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.1%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	West Bath and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	22.4%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Deerfield and West 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	#61 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Deerfield School District	West Bath Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.