Compare towns
West Bath vs White River Junction 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 highest household income ($103k).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863Lowest |
3,364 |
5,046Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%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% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Bath and Harpswell 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$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. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,348±$53Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Harpswell and White River Junction 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. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harpswell 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 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.