What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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	Wayne
People
Population	1,863Highest	1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.2±5.6Lowest 21% above ME	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME
	Wayne 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%	13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	West Bath and Wayne 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%	29.2%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	West Bath and Wayne 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%	48.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Wayne 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±$27kHighest 38% above ME	$93,194±$26kLowest 25% above ME
	West Bath and Wayne 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	$362,800±$29kLowest 22% above ME
	West Bath and Wayne 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	$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME
	West Bath and Wayne 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	$3,289Lowest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	West Bath and Wayne 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%	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 16% below ME	30 minHighest 24% above ME
Work from home	17.1%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne 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	RSU 38
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.