Compare towns
Edgecomb vs Palermo vs West Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Edgecomb has the youngest population (median age 41).
Palermo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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.
| Measure | Edgecomb | Palermo | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,251Lowest |
1,473 |
1,863Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±8.8Lowest 8% below ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME |
| West Bath and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±7.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| West Bath and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.8% ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±6.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Edgecomb 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 | $108,750±$18kHighest 46% above ME |
$89,095±$15kLowest 19% above ME |
$103,333±$27k 38% above ME |
| Edgecomb and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,400±$36k 17% above ME |
$259,700±$54kLowest 12% below ME |
$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME |
| West Bath and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average |
| Palermo and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,577Highest 18% above ME |
$2,506Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,516 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±43.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 10% below ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Edgecomb Public Schools | RSU 12 | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.