Compare towns
Bath vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
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 | Townsend | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097 |
9,100Highest |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 25% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bath and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±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% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,104±$218Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Bath 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Monroe 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bath and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bath School District | North Middlesex | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.