Compare towns
Bath vs Monroe vs Stratford
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 people working from home (11.1%).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Stratford has the most affordable homes ($161k 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 | Monroe | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097Highest |
786Lowest |
950 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% NH: +4.6% |
+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-11.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6Lowest 12% above NH |
51±10.4Highest 18% above NH |
49.8±16.8 15% above NH |
| Monroe and Stratford 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% |
21.4%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratford 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% |
25.1%±9.3Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
25.4% NH: 40.6% |
16.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 NH: 6% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.2%±2.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stratford 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 32% below NH |
$88,150±$7kHighest 11% below NH |
$49,583±$14kLowest 50% below NH |
| Monroe 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 42% below NH |
$312,700±$58kHighest 22% below NH |
$161,100±$48kLowest 60% 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±$218 26% below NH |
$775±$264Lowest 48% 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 |
$2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48%±39 NH: 48.2% |
64%±53.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratford 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% |
23.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
83.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Bath and Stratford 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 | Stratford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.