Compare towns
Bath vs Monroe vs Plainfield
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).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Monroe | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097 |
786Lowest |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 12% above NH |
51±10.4Highest 18% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below 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% |
20.9%±7.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 NH: 6% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$88,150±$7k 11% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH |
$312,700±$58k 22% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309 4% below NH |
$1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Bath 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 |
$2,661Lowest 60% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48%±39Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Monroe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bath School District | Monroe School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None 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.