What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlestown has the youngest population (median age 41.6).

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

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	Charlestown	Bath
People
Population	4,889Highest	1,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	0%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.6±8.5Lowest 4% below NH	48.6±8.6Highest 12% above NH
	Bath and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%	21.3%±5.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Charlestown and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bath and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	26.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6%	2.4%±2Lowest NH: 6%
	Charlestown and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,338±$23kLowest 52% below NH	$67,813±$22kHighest 32% below NH
	Bath and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$228,000±$62kLowest 43% below NH	$234,400±$23kHighest 42% below NH
	Bath and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,099±$85Lowest 26% below NH	$1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH
	Bath and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,143Highest 23% below NH	$4,413Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2%	5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Charlestown and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below NH	26 minHighest 4% below NH
Work from home	7.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.1%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bath and Charlestown 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	#113 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Bath School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.