Compare towns
West Bath vs Durham 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Durham | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863Lowest |
4,262 |
5,046Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.6 21% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Durham 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% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham 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±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
$99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME |
| West Bath and Durham 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 |
$322,200±$34kLowest 9% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average |
— | $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 |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| West Bath and Durham 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% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 16% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.1%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Harpswell 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 | — | #14 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | West Bath Public Schools | RSU 05 | 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.