Compare towns
West Bath vs Castleton vs Phippsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Phippsburg has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Castleton | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.3±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Phippsburg and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Phippsburg 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+ | 50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$107,833±$19kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Phippsburg and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$335,800±$47k about the U.S. average |
| West Bath and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,022±$346Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Castleton and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,516Highest 13% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$2,034Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.5%±98.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Bath and Phippsburg 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West Bath Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| 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.