Compare towns
West Bath vs Appleton vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | West Bath | Appleton | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863 |
1,360Lowest |
5,046Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.6 21% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Appleton and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| West Bath and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
| West Bath and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$327 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
| Harpswell and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,516 16% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±26.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 16% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | West Bath Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| 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 |
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.