What stands out worked out from the figures below

Palermo has the most affordable homes ($260k median).

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	Palermo	West Bath
People
Population	1,473Lowest	1,863Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.4±6.1Lowest 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	18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Palermo and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	West Bath and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,095±$15kLowest 19% above ME	$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME
	West Bath and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$259,700±$54kLowest 12% below ME	$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME
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	$2,506Lowest 17% below ME	$3,516Highest 16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	41.1%±26.3Lowest 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	4.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 24% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9%	17.1%±6.9Lowest 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	RSU 12	West Bath Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.