Compare towns
South Eliot vs Lyme 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
South Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
West Bath has the most affordable homes ($423k median).
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 | South Eliot | Lyme | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203Highest |
1,710Lowest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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+ | 49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Bath and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| Lyme and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Lyme School District | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.