Compare towns
Bath vs Bristol vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k 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 | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097 |
2,098Highest |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6Highest 25% above U.S. |
38.5±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Bath and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$22k 16% below U.S. |
$73,993±$24kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23k 30% below U.S. |
$237,400±$27kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,279±$120 9% below U.S. |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| 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 41% above U.S. |
$3,686 18% above U.S. |
$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ryegate and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.