What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monmouth has the oldest population (median age 46.2).

Wales has the most kids (30.2% 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	Monmouth	Wales
People
Population	4,162Highest	1,924Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-0.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.2±1.5Highest 3% above ME	35.1±4.2Lowest 22% below ME
Kids under 18	19%±6.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Wales and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%	11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.4%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Wales and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,648±$18kLowest about the ME average	$77,004±$5kHighest 3% above ME
	Wales and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME	$250,400±$28kLowest 16% below ME
	Monmouth and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$175Highest 12% above ME	$1,154±$64Lowest about the ME average
	Monmouth and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,139Highest 3% above ME	$2,578Lowest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.6%±46.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	83.3%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Wales and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	25.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	28 minLowest 14% above ME
Work from home	23%±11Highest ME: 15.9%	22.2%±13.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Monmouth and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#51 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 02	RSU 04
High school in town	Monmouth Academy	Oak Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.