Compare towns
Bath vs Monroe vs Wakefield
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%).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097 |
786Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6Lowest 12% above NH |
51±10.4Highest 18% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
| Monroe and Wakefield 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% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Bath and Wakefield 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 |
$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
| Wakefield 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 |
$312,700±$58k 22% below NH |
$322,800±$43kHighest 20% below NH |
| Wakefield and Monroe 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 |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
| Bath and Wakefield 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 |
$2,661Lowest 60% below NH |
$2,954 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3 NH: 48.2% |
48%±39Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Monroe and Bath 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% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield 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 | — | — | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bath School District | Monroe School District | Wakefield 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.