What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k median).

West Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).

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	Smithfield	West Bath
People
Population	856Lowest	1,863Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME	54.2±5.6Lowest 21% above ME
	Smithfield and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	14.7%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	West Bath and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%	29.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Smithfield 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+	34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	West Bath and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME	$103,333±$27kLowest 38% above ME
	Smithfield and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME	$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average	$1,112±$327Highest about the ME average
	West Bath and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,866Lowest 6% below ME	$3,516Highest 16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4%	41.1%±26.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Smithfield and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983 6 yrs newer than ME	1983 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 32% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9%	17.1%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Smithfield and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	West Bath Public Schools
High school 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.