What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

West Bath has the most expensive homes ($423k median).

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	Durham	West Bath
People
Population	4,262Highest	1,863Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME	54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%	14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Durham and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%	4.8%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Durham 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	$99,181±$5kLowest 33% above ME	$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME
	West Bath and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,200±$34kLowest 9% above ME	$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME
	West Bath and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,112±$327 about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,781Highest 25% above ME	$3,516Lowest 16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	West Bath and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%	17.1%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Durham 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	#14 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 05	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.