Compare towns
West Bath vs Eliot vs Rye
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 most affordable homes ($423k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Eliot | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863Lowest |
7,146Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye 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%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Eliot 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% |
27.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Bath and Rye 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. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$102kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Rye 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | West Bath Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.