What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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.

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

Measure	Bath	Sheffield
People
Population	1,097Highest	573Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±8.6Highest 25% above U.S.	42±8Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Bath and Sheffield 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%	17.1%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bath and Sheffield 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%	19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	27.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sheffield 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±$22kHighest 16% below U.S.	$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S.
	Bath and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,400±$23kHighest 30% below U.S.	$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S.
	Bath and Sheffield 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	$967±$79Lowest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,413Highest 41% above U.S.	$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.5%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sheffield 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 U.S.: 12.5%	6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bath and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Bath School District	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.