Compare towns
West Bath vs Harpswell vs Phippsburg
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 most kids (14.7% under 18).
Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Harpswell | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863Lowest |
5,046Highest |
2,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.6Lowest 21% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
54.3±6.3 21% above ME |
| Harpswell and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
| West Bath and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
34.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Harpswell and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| West Bath and Phippsburg 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 38% above ME |
$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
| 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 43% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$335,800±$47kLowest 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$327 about the ME average |
$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,022±$346Lowest 10% below 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 | $3,516Highest 16% above ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
$2,034Lowest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
| West Bath and Phippsburg 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% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 16% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | West Bath Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| 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 |
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.