Compare towns

Phippsburg vs New Gloucester 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).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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.

MeasurePhippsburgNew GloucesterWest Bath
People
Population
2,238
5,766Highest
1,863Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+2.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+1.8%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
54.3±6.3Highest
21% above ME
40.1±5.5Lowest
10% 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%
24.2%±5.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
14.7%±4.2
ME: 18.1%
New Gloucester 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%
15.4%±4.2Lowest
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%
30.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
50.7%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.3%±2.1
ME: 5.8%
4.8%±2.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
West Bath and New Gloucester 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
$108,797±$12kHighest
46% above ME
$103,333±$27kLowest
38% above ME
New Gloucester 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
13% above ME
$357,100±$29k
20% above ME
$422,800±$102kHighest
43% above ME
West Bath and New Gloucester 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
$1,150±$249Highest
about the ME average
$1,112±$327
about the ME average
New Gloucester 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
$3,417
13% above ME
$3,516Highest
16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.5%±98.7
ME: 48.4%
24.7%±12Lowest
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%
4.3%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
82.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.3%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
7 yrs newer than ME
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1983Lowest
6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
13% below ME
27 minHighest
9% above ME
21 minLowest
16% below ME
Work from home
11.7%±4.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
14.2%±6.5
ME: 15.9%
17.1%±6.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
West Bath and New Gloucester 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 — #65 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU RSU 15/MSAD 15 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.