Compare towns
Monroe vs Jay vs Bath vs Lyman
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 the highest household income ($88k).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Bath has the youngest population (median age 48.6).
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Monroe | Jay | Bath | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 786 |
471 |
1,097Highest |
464Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
48.6±8.6Lowest 25% above U.S. |
60.8±6.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±6.7Lowest 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%±8.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyman and Monroe 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Jay 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. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$71,042±$17k 12% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Jay 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$234,400±$23k 30% below U.S. |
$311,100±$66k 6% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Lyman 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. |
— | $1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,147±$81 19% below U.S. |
| Bath and Lyman 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. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,413Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,981 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyman 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 | 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.