Compare towns
West Bath vs Epping vs Bath vs Harpswell
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
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 | Epping | Bath | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,863Lowest |
7,430 |
8,815Highest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and 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% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$96,250±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,348±$53 5% below U.S. |
| Epping and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,516 13% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #31 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | West Bath Public Schools | Epping School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Morse High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.