What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Troy has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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	Troy
People
Population	1,001Lowest	1,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±7Lowest 12% above U.S.	44.5±5.7Highest 14% above U.S.
	Troy and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	21.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Monroe and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Monroe and Troy 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 U.S.: 35.7%	20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Monroe and Troy 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 about the U.S. average	$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Troy 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±$57kLowest 34% below U.S.	$233,200±$21kHighest 30% below U.S.
	Troy and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$152Highest 18% below U.S.	$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,207Lowest 29% below U.S.	$3,644Highest 17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±47.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Monroe and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Monroe and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03	Troy School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.