Compare towns

South Eliot 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).
West Bath has the most affordable homes ($423k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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.

MeasureSouth EliotWest BathEliot
People
Population
4,203
1,863Lowest
7,146Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
ME: +2.6%
+1.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+8.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
55.5±8Highest
24% above ME
54.2±5.6
21% above ME
50.8±5.9Lowest
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%
14.7%±4.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.3%±3.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
Eliot 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%
29.4%±4.2
ME: 22.4%
27.8%±6.2Lowest
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%
50.7%Highest
ME: 36.2%
43.6%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.8%±2.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
2%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
West Bath and Eliot 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
33% 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
$422,800±$102kLowest
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
$1,112±$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
$3,516Lowest
16% above ME
$4,549Highest
50% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±29.1Highest
ME: 48.4%
41.1%±26.3Lowest
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%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
4.8%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
82.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
79.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
4 yrs older 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
21 minLowest
16% below ME
23 minHighest
9% below ME
Work from home
14.2%±4.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
17.1%±6.9
ME: 15.9%
17.4%±4.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
Eliot 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 — — #19 of 133 in ME
School district — West Bath Public Schools RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town — None 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.