Compare towns
Phippsburg vs Dresden 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 highest household income ($108k).
Dresden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
West Bath has the most people working from home (17.1%).
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 | Dresden | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,238Highest |
1,645Lowest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.3±6.3 21% above ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
54.2±5.6Lowest 21% above ME |
| Dresden 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% |
17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Dresden and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Phippsburg and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Bath and Dresden 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 |
$74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average |
$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±$47k 13% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME |
| West Bath and Phippsburg 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 |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$1,112±$327 about the ME average |
| Dresden and West Bath 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 |
$2,500 18% below ME |
$3,516Highest 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 13% below ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| West Bath and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 02 | 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.