Compare towns
Mendon vs West Bath vs Shrewsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
West Bath has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
Shrewsbury has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Mendon | West Bath | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
1,863Highest |
1,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.3±5.6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Bath and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Bath and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$91,250±$23kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$331,900±$52kLowest about the U.S. average |
| West Bath and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,438±$380Highest about the U.S. average |
| Shrewsbury and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342 71% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$5,350Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | West Bath Public Schools | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.