Compare towns
Bath vs Monroe vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097Highest |
786Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 25% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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 16% below U.S. |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Bath and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,413 41% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monroe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Bath School District | Monroe School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.