Compare towns
South Eliot vs Topsham vs West Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Eliot has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
West Bath has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Topsham | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203 |
9,706Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
54.2±5.6 21% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham 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 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| 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 ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham 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 | $99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
$91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
| West Bath and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52kHighest 60% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
| South Eliot and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average |
| South Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442Highest 46% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
$3,516Lowest 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3 ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot 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% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 16% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Topsham 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.