What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Bath has the most kids (14.7% under 18).

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

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	Jackson
People
Population	1,863Highest	897Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.2±5.6Lowest 39% above U.S.	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.
	Jackson 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%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	West Bath and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	West Bath and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,333±$27kLowest 28% above U.S.	$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S.
	Jackson 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.	$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S.
	Jackson 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 13% above U.S.	$6,001Highest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.1%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	West Bath and Jackson 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%	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 22% below U.S.	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jackson 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	Jackson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.