What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).

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	Strafford
People
Population	1,863Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S.
	West Bath and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford 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 U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	West Bath and Strafford 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%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and West Bath 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.	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Strafford 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.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Strafford 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±$327Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S.
	Strafford 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.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and West Bath 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%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%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 minLowest 22% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	West Bath and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	West Bath Public Schools	Strafford 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.