What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	1,863Highest	831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S.	47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S.
	West Bath and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	West Bath and Worcester 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%	19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Worcester 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 28% above U.S.	$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S.
	West Bath and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S.	$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,112±$327Highest 21% below U.S.	$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S.
	West Bath and Worcester 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.	$4,421Highest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.1%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	West Bath and Worcester 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%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Worcester 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	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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.