Compare towns
Bath vs Sheldon vs Jay
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Sheldon | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097 |
2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 25% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Jay 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Bath 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Sheldon 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. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Jay 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. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Bath and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,413Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Bath 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Bath School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 |
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.