Compare towns
Bath vs New Hampton vs Nelson vs Ryegate
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 homeowners (90.9%).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k 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 | New Hampton | Nelson | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,097 |
2,509Highest |
648Lowest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 25% above U.S. |
51.7±2.7Highest 33% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| New Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| New Hampton 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 16% below U.S. |
$95,250±$35k 18% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Nelson and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23k 30% below U.S. |
$383,700±$37kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| New Hampton and Nelson 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 |
$749±$433Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$908±$236 36% below U.S. |
| Bath and Nelson 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. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.3%±21.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ryegate and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Bath School District | Newfound Area School District | Nelson 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 | 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.