Compare towns
Bath vs Bristol 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).
Monroe has the most expensive homes ($313k 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 | Bath | Bristol | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097 |
2,098Highest |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 12% above NH |
38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH |
51±10.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Monroe and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
28.5%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±7.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Monroe and Bath 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% |
28%Highest NH: 40.6% |
25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 NH: 6% |
5%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Bath 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 |
$73,993±$24k 25% below NH |
$88,150±$7kHighest 11% below NH |
| Monroe and Bristol 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 |
$237,400±$27k 41% below NH |
$312,700±$58kHighest 22% below NH |
| Monroe and Bristol 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 |
$1,279±$120 14% below NH |
$1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH |
| Bath and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,413Highest 34% below NH |
$3,686 45% below NH |
$2,661Lowest 60% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
48%±39 NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Monroe 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% |
9.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bath and Bristol 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 | — | #79 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bath School District | — | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.