What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the most people working from home (14.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hancock	Monroe
People
Population	1,791Highest	786Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH	51±10.4Lowest 18% above NH
	Hancock and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Monroe and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Monroe and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Hancock and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH	$88,150±$7kLowest 11% below NH
	Hancock and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH	$312,700±$58kLowest 22% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$650Highest 19% below NH	$1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH
	Hancock and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Highest 3% above NH	$2,661Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	48%±39Highest NH: 48.2%
	Monroe and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	14.9%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8%	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Monroe School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.