What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlefield has the most people working from home (13.2%).

Monroe has the most kids (16.4% under 18).

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	Middlefield	Monroe
People
Population	352Highest	122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-26.1% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	56.9±3.7Lowest 42% above MA	60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA
	Monroe and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±28Highest MA: 19.4%
	Monroe and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.7%±8.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Monroe and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Monroe and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,750±$23k about the MA average	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,800±$48kHighest 41% below MA	$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA
	Middlefield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,625±$1k 49% above MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,926Highest 18% below MA	$2,053Lowest 66% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Middlefield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Lowest MA: 10%	38.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	56 minHighest 93% above MA
Work from home	13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6%	0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Middlefield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
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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.