What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

Freedom has the most affordable homes ($191k 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	Freedom
People
Population	1,001Highest	670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.5±7Highest about the ME average	40.1±2.7Lowest 10% below ME
	Monroe and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%	22.2%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Monroe and Freedom 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%	22.1%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Monroe and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	23.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8%	0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Monroe and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME	$64,861±$12kLowest 13% below ME
	Monroe and Freedom 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	$190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME
	Monroe and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$152 about the ME average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,207Lowest 27% below ME	$2,328Highest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4%	21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Monroe and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	11.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 28% above ME	32 minHighest 29% above ME
Work from home	11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Monroe and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.