Compare towns
West Bath vs Dover 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 the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Phippsburg has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Dover | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863Lowest |
33,364Highest |
2,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
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% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above 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±$102k 27% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$335,800±$47kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover and West Bath 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. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,022±$346Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,516 13% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$2,034Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.5%±98.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | West Bath Public Schools | Dover School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.