What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

Benton has the oldest population (median age 62.1).

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	Benton
People
Population	786Highest	386Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	51±10.4Lowest 18% above NH	62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH
	Benton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2%	6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	30.3%±8.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	37.3%±12.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Benton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	18.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
	Benton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,150±$7kHighest 11% below NH	$67,895±$4kLowest 31% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$312,700±$58kHighest 22% below NH	$288,300±$46kLowest 28% below NH
	Monroe and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$218 26% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,661Lowest 60% below NH	$2,922Highest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±39Lowest NH: 48.2%	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Benton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	32 minHighest 20% above NH
Work from home	3.2%±2.2Highest NH: 16.8%	2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Monroe and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Monroe School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NH 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.