Compare towns
South Eliot vs Windham vs West Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Eliot has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
West Bath has the most affordable homes ($423k 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 | Windham | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203 |
16,038Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Bath and Windham 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 23% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292 53% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Windham School District | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.