Compare towns
Phippsburg vs Hampden 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 renters (18.2% rent).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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.
| Measure | Phippsburg | Hampden | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,238 |
7,896Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.3±6.3Highest 21% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
54.2±5.6 21% above ME |
| Phippsburg and West Bath 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% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden 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 | $107,833±$19k 44% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$103,333±$27kLowest 38% above ME |
| Hampden and Phippsburg 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 |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
$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 |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
$1,112±$327 about the ME average |
| Hampden 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 |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$3,516 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest 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% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 13% below ME |
23 minHighest 7% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 22 | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.