Compare towns
Phippsburg vs Bristol 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
Phippsburg has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
West Bath has the most kids (14.7% 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 | Phippsburg | Bristol | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,238 |
2,917Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.3±6.3 21% above ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
54.2±5.6Lowest 21% above ME |
| Bristol and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| West Bath and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bristol and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
50.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Bath and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$100,750±$19kLowest 35% above ME |
$103,333±$27k 38% above ME |
| Phippsburg and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,800±$47kLowest 13% above ME |
$406,400±$54k 37% above ME |
$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME |
| West Bath and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
$1,051±$106 8% below ME |
$1,112±$327Highest about the ME average |
| West Bath and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,034Lowest 33% below ME |
$2,668 12% below ME |
$3,516Highest 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| West Bath and Phippsburg 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 13% below ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
21 min 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol 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 | — | #16 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Bristol Public Schools | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.