Compare towns
South Eliot vs Topsham vs West Bath vs Harpswell
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 housing (typical home built 1973).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
West Bath has the highest household income ($103k).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,203 |
9,706Highest |
1,863Lowest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8 24% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
54.2±5.6 21% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Harpswell and South Eliot 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%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest 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%±6.8 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and South Eliot 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% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%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% |
1.9%±2.1 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 |
$96,250±$15k 29% 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±$52k 60% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average |
$1,348±$53 18% above ME |
| 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 |
$3,516 16% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest 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% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.3% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%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 |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 16% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above 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% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | West Bath Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| 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.