Compare towns

Barnet vs Worcester 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

Barnet has the most people working from home (55%).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
Monroe has the highest household income ($88k).

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.

MeasureBarnetWorcesterMonroe
People
Population
61Lowest
831Highest
786
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.2±45.8Highest
60% above U.S.
47±2.7Lowest
21% above U.S.
51±10.4
31% above U.S.
Barnet and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
31.1%±29.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±7.6
U.S.: 22%
Barnet and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
36.1%±44.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.3%±8.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnet and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±23.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$57,917±$16kLowest
28% below U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
$88,150±$7kHighest
9% above U.S.
Monroe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$204,200±$38kLowest
39% below U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$312,700±$58kHighest
6% below U.S.
Monroe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,104±$218Highest
22% below U.S.
Monroe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,950
5% below U.S.
$4,421Highest
42% above U.S.
$2,661Lowest
15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±39Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Monroe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
47.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way —
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
55%±29Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
3.2%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Barnet and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Monroe School District
High school 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.