Compare towns
Phippsburg vs Lancaster vs West Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Phippsburg has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lancaster | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,238 |
8,606Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Bath and Lancaster 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 34% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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±$47kLowest about the U.S. average |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,022±$346Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,034Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,516 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.5%±98.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 19% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Nashoba | 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 |
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.