Compare towns
West Bath vs Westminster vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k 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.
| Measure | West Bath | Westminster | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863 |
497Lowest |
5,046Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Bath and Westminster 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 28% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$96,250±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,348±$53Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Harpswell 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 13% above U.S. |
$4,480Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Bath and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West Bath Public Schools | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.