Compare towns
Bath vs Northbridge vs Monroe
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).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Northbridge | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097 |
16,458Highest |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 25% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% 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% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bath and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest 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% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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 30% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Bath and Northbridge 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. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Monroe 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bath School District | Northbridge | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.