What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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.

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

Measure	Sharon	West Bath
People
Population	1,577Lowest	1,863Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S.	54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S.
	West Bath and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sharon and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	West Bath and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.	$103,333±$27kHighest 28% above U.S.
	West Bath and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S.	$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S.
	West Bath and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average	$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Sharon and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.	$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.1%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	West Bath and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	West Bath and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Sharon School District	West Bath Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.