Compare towns
Monroe vs Benson vs Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Bath has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Monroe | Benson | Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 786 |
784Lowest |
1,097Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
48.6±8.6Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Benson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bath and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$218Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average |
| Bath and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,413Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Monroe School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bath 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.