What stands out worked out from the figures below

Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

West Bath has the most people working from home (17.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Surry	West Bath
People
Population	1,836Lowest	1,863Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.4±5.6Lowest 17% above ME	54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME
	West Bath and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.7Highest ME: 18.1%	14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Surry and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%	29.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Surry 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+	38.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	50.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	West Bath and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average	$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME
	West Bath and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,300±$36kLowest about the ME average	$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME
	West Bath and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME	$1,112±$327Highest about the ME average
	West Bath and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,903Lowest 37% below ME	$3,516Highest 16% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%	41.1%±26.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Surry and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 26% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.1%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	West Bath and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Surry Public Schools	West Bath Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.