What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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	Hampden	West Bath
People
Population	7,896Highest	1,863Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME	54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	4.8%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden 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	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME	$103,333±$27kLowest 38% above ME
	Hampden and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average	$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME
	West Bath and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME	$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average
	Hampden and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Highest 22% above ME	$3,516Lowest 16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	West Bath and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 7% below ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	17.1%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 22	West Bath Public Schools
High school in town	Hampden Academy	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8	—
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.