Compare towns
Bath vs Monroe vs Stark
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).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Stark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097Highest |
786 |
419Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% NH: +4.6% |
+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6Lowest 12% above NH |
51±10.4 18% above NH |
58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH |
| Stark and Monroe 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% |
20.9%±7.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±6.9Lowest 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% |
30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Monroe and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
25.4% NH: 40.6% |
17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 NH: 6% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stark 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±$7kHighest 11% below NH |
$71,750±$23k 28% below NH |
| Monroe and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23k 42% below NH |
$312,700±$58kHighest 22% below NH |
$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH |
| Monroe 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 4% below NH |
$1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH |
— |
| Bath and Monroe 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 |
$2,661 60% below NH |
$2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48%±39 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stark 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stark and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Bath School District | Monroe School District | Stark 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.