Compare towns
Monroe vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k 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 | Monroe | Reading | Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 786 |
699Lowest |
1,097Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.6±8.6Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Reading 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Reading and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average |
| Bath and Monroe 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,413 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.