Compare towns
South Eliot vs West Bath vs Boothbay
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
West Bath has the most people working from home (17.1%).
Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 min average).
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 | West Bath | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203Highest |
1,863Lowest |
3,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8 24% above ME |
54.2±5.6Lowest 21% above ME |
56.8±3.9Highest 27% above ME |
| Boothbay 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%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| South Eliot and West Bath 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% |
29.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
35.4%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Boothbay 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% |
50.7% ME: 36.2% |
51.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
6%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Boothbay 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 |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
$60,320±$17kLowest 19% below 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 |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
$342,100±$43kLowest 15% 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 |
$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average |
$1,147±$121 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442Highest 46% above ME |
$3,516 16% above ME |
$2,202Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3 ME: 48.4% |
30.4%±31Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 16% below ME |
21 minHighest 16% below ME |
13 minLowest 46% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| West Bath and South Eliot 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 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.