What stands out worked out from the figures below

Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).

Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k 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.

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

Measure	Heath	Monroe
People
Population	765Highest	122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	53.8±11.9Lowest 35% above MA	60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA
	Monroe and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±28Highest MA: 19.4%
	Monroe and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9%	31.1%±27.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Heath and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Monroe and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,750±$23k 5% below MA	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,000±$45kHighest 48% below MA	$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA
	Heath and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,438Highest 26% below MA	$2,053Lowest 66% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Heath and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest MA: 10%	38.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 20% above MA	56 minHighest 93% above MA
Work from home	31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6%	0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Heath and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.