What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).

Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	West Bath	Hope
People
Population	1,863Highest	1,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME	44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Hope and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%	21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	47.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	West Bath and Hope 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	$86,766±$6kLowest 16% above ME
	West Bath and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME	$373,400±$33kLowest 26% above ME
	West Bath and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average	$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME
	Hope and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,516Lowest 16% above ME	$3,842Highest 27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4%	37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	West Bath and Hope 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%	5.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 16% below ME	20 minLowest 19% below ME
Work from home	17.1%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hope 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	Hope Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.