What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the most people working from home (11.8%).

Anson has the most affordable homes ($100k 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	Monroe	Anson
People
Population	1,001Highest	680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.5±7Highest about the ME average	43.3±15.2Lowest 3% below ME
	Monroe and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.7%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Anson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%	8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8%	0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Monroe and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,300±$7kLowest 9% above ME	$87,770±$61kHighest 17% above ME
	Anson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME	$100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average	$914±$247Lowest 20% below ME
	Monroe and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,207Highest 27% below ME	$1,207Lowest 60% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4%	31.8%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Monroe and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	60.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 28% above ME	31 minLowest 26% above ME
Work from home	11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9%	0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.