Compare towns
Phippsburg vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,238 |
14,449Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% 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% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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 34% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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 |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,022±$346Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
| Pelham 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 35% below U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,516 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.5%±98.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 19% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Pelham School District | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.