What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pownal has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pownal	West Bath
People
Population	1,696Lowest	1,863Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.2±8.4Lowest 5% above ME	54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME
	West Bath and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%	14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	23.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	West Bath and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	West Bath and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,333±$14kHighest 40% above ME	$103,333±$27kLowest 38% above ME
	Pownal and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,800±$32kHighest 47% above ME	$422,800±$102kLowest 43% above ME
	Pownal and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$636Lowest 14% below ME	$1,112±$327Highest about the ME average
	West Bath and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,212Highest 72% above ME	$3,516Lowest 16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.9%±22.5Highest ME: 48.4%	41.1%±26.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Pownal and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	23.9%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9%	17.1%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Pownal and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 05	West Bath Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.