What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

Orford has the highest household income ($93k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bath	Orford
People
Population	1,097Lowest	1,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0% NH: +4.6%	0% NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±8.6Lowest 12% above NH	48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH
	Orford 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 NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1%	25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bath and Orford 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 NH: 40.6%	44%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2Lowest NH: 6%	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Orford 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 32% below NH	$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH
	Orford 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±$23kLowest 42% below NH	$271,900±$25kHighest 32% below NH
	Orford 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	$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH
	Bath and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,413Lowest 34% below NH	$5,836Highest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	37.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Orford 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%	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 4% below NH	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	11.1%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8%	10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bath and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Bath School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None in town	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.