Compare towns
Barnet vs Monroe vs Nelson
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).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Monroe | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
786 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Barnet 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% |
20.9%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Lowest 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% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Monroe and Barnet 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. |
$88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Monroe 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. |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Monroe 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. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Monroe 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. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Monroe School District | Nelson 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.