Compare towns
West Bath vs Ellsworth 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Ellsworth | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863Lowest |
8,657Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% 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% |
18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Rye 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% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest 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% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth 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. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below 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±$102k 27% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,516 13% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | — | #63 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | West Bath Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth 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.