Compare towns

Freeport vs Phippsburg 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

Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Phippsburg has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
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.

MeasureFreeportPhippsburgWest Bath
People
Population
8,802Highest
2,238
1,863Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-2.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+1.8%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
48.8±4.3Lowest
9% above ME
54.3±6.3Highest
21% above ME
54.2±5.6
21% above ME
Phippsburg and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±3.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
11.5%±3.1Lowest
ME: 18.1%
14.7%±4.2
ME: 18.1%
Freeport and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.7%±4.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
34.4%±3.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
29.4%±4.2
ME: 22.4%
Phippsburg and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.6%Highest
ME: 36.2%
37.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
50.7%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±1.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.8%±2.3
ME: 5.8%
Freeport 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
$107,326±$19k
44% above ME
$107,833±$19kHighest
44% above ME
$103,333±$27kLowest
38% above ME
Phippsburg and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$508,400±$76kHighest
71% above ME
$335,800±$47kLowest
13% above ME
$422,800±$102k
43% above ME
Freeport and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,439±$123Highest
26% above ME
$1,022±$346Lowest
10% below ME
$1,112±$327
about the ME average
Freeport and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,042Highest
66% above ME
$2,034Lowest
33% below ME
$3,516
16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±18.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
35.5%±98.7Lowest
ME: 48.4%
41.1%±26.3
ME: 48.4%
Freeport and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
7.5%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
81.8%
ME: 74.3%
82.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
1983Lowest
6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
4% below ME
21 min
13% below ME
21 minLowest
16% below ME
Work from home
21.2%±5.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.7%±4.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
17.1%±6.9
ME: 15.9%
Freeport 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 #4 of 133 in ME — —
School district RSU 05 RSU 01 - LKRSU West Bath Public Schools
High school in town Freeport High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
— —
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.