What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the most affordable homes ($220k median).

Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).

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	Union
People
Population	1,001Lowest	2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.5±7Highest about the ME average	41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME
	Monroe and Union 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%	24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Union 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%	21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Monroe and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Monroe and Union 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	$80,724±$9kLowest 8% above ME
	Monroe and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$220,300±$57kLowest 26% below ME	$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME
	Union and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$152Lowest about the ME average	$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME
	Union and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,207Lowest 27% below ME	$3,276Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4%	24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Monroe and Union 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%	10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 28% above ME	29 minLowest 20% above ME
Work from home	11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Union and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.