Compare towns
Jay vs West Bath vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
West Bath has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Jay | West Bath | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657 |
1,863Lowest |
4,932Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME |
42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jay and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Warren 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 | $70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
$74,616±$21k about the ME average |
| West Bath and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME |
$232,700±$32k 22% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,112±$327 about the ME average |
$1,125±$456Highest about the ME average |
| Warren and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$3,516Highest 16% above ME |
$2,832 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3 ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Warren and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.3% ME: 74.3% |
81.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 13% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
23 minHighest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
| West Bath and Warren 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | — | #120 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 73 | West Bath Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.