Compare towns
South Eliot vs Topsham vs West Bath vs Eliot
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 oldest population (median age 55.5).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
West Bath has the most homeowners (82.3%).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k 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 | Topsham | West Bath | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,203 |
9,706Highest |
1,863Lowest |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% 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 |
50.8±5.9 13% 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% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and 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% |
27.8%±6.2 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% ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.6%Lowest 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% |
2%±1.4 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 |
$101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
| West Bath and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52k 60% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
$498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
| Eliot and South Eliot 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 |
$1,948±$471 71% above ME |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442 46% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
$3,516Lowest 16% above ME |
$4,549Highest 50% 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% |
55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Eliot 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% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8% 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 |
1979 2 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 |
23 min 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Eliot and Topsham 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | West Bath Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | — | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.