What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).

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.

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

Measure	West Bath	Phippsburg
People
Population	1,863Lowest	2,238Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.2±5.6Lowest 21% above ME	54.3±6.3Highest 21% above ME
	Phippsburg 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 ME: 18.1%	11.5%±3.1Lowest 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%	34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Phippsburg and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	37.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	2.3%±1.6Lowest 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±$27kLowest 38% 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±$102kHighest 43% above ME	$335,800±$47kLowest 13% above ME
	West Bath and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,112±$327Highest about the ME average	$1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME
	West Bath and Phippsburg 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	$2,034Lowest 33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4%	35.5%±98.7Lowest 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%	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 16% below ME	21 minHighest 13% below ME
Work from home	17.1%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9%	11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	West Bath and Phippsburg 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 01 - LKRSU
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.