Compare towns
Barnet vs Middlesex vs Strafford 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 affordable homes ($248k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Barnet | Middlesex | Strafford | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,943Highest |
1,372 |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None 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.