Compare towns

West Bath vs Kennebunk 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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.

MeasureWest BathKennebunkPhippsburg
People
Population
1,863Lowest
6,221Highest
2,238
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%
ME: +2.6%
+10.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-2.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
54.2±5.6Lowest
21% above ME
54.3±7.2Highest
21% above ME
54.3±6.3Highest
21% above ME
Kids under 18
14.7%±4.2
ME: 18.1%
18.1%±4.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
11.5%±3.1Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Kennebunk and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.4%±4.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
30.9%±4.5
ME: 22.4%
34.4%±3.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
Phippsburg and Kennebunk 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%Highest
ME: 36.2%
37.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±1.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
West Bath and Kennebunk 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
$95,169±$21kLowest
27% 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
$452,800±$17kHighest
53% above ME
$335,800±$47kLowest
13% above ME
Kennebunk and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,112±$327
about the ME average
$1,466±$261Highest
29% above ME
$1,022±$346Lowest
10% below ME
Kennebunk and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,516
16% above ME
$4,771Highest
57% above ME
$2,034Lowest
33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.1%±26.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
40.3%±13.2
ME: 48.4%
35.5%±98.7Lowest
ME: 48.4%
West Bath and Kennebunk 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%
11.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
7.5%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
73.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
81.8%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1980Lowest
3 yrs newer than ME
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
16% below ME
23 minHighest
8% below ME
21 min
13% below ME
Work from home
17.1%±6.9
ME: 15.9%
36.6%±10.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.7%±4.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #9 of 133 in ME —
School district West Bath Public Schools — RSU 01 - LKRSU
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.