Compare towns
Bath vs Sheldon vs Jay 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
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Sheldon | Jay | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,097 |
2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% 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. |
41.2±2.6 6% 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% |
23.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Ryegate 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% 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% |
2.4%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$22k 16% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% 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±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% 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±$379 9% below U.S. |
— | $908±$236Lowest 36% 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. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,472Lowest 11% 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%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ryegate and Jay 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older 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. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest 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 | 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.