Compare towns
Wells vs West Bath vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
West Bath has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Wells | West Bath | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
1,863Highest |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Lowest 30% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1 36% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Bath and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Bath and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$103,333±$27kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| West Bath and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
$996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Wells and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$3,516Highest 13% above U.S. |
$3,485 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Bath and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | West Bath Public Schools | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.