Compare towns
Bath vs Bethlehem vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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.
| Measure | Bath | Bethlehem | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097 |
2,537Highest |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6Lowest 12% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
51±10.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Monroe and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±7.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bath and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Monroe and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
1.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Bath and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH |
$85,029±$18k 14% below NH |
$88,150±$7kHighest 11% below NH |
| Monroe and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH |
$288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
$312,700±$58kHighest 22% below NH |
| Monroe and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH |
| Bath and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,413 34% below NH |
$5,418Highest 19% below NH |
$2,661Lowest 60% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
48%±39Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Monroe and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #34 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bath School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.