Compare towns

Bath vs Durham 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).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($498k median).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureBathDurhamMonroe
People
Population
1,097
10,681Highest
786Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%
NH: +4.6%
+9.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
48.6±8.6
12% above NH
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% 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%±5.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2Lowest
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%±2.5
NH: 20.1%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
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%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
25.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
1.1%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,813±$22kLowest
32% below NH
$112,070±$25kHighest
13% above NH
$88,150±$7k
11% below NH
Durham and Monroe 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
$498,000±$45kHighest
24% above NH
$312,700±$58k
22% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,438±$309Highest
4% below NH
$1,302±$211
13% below NH
$1,104±$218Lowest
26% below NH
Bath and Durham 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$2,661Lowest
60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
5.9%±61.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
48%±39
NH: 48.2%
Durham 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%
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
53.6%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
17 minLowest
36% below NH
27 minHighest
about the NH average
Work from home
11.1%±3.2
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
3.2%±2.2Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Durham and Bath 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 — #9 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 History 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.