What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

Columbia has the most people working from home (11.2%).

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	Columbia
People
Population	786Highest	683Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-12.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51±10.4Lowest 18% above NH	51.8±10.1Highest 20% above NH
	Columbia 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%	17.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Monroe and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1%	29.9%±8.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Monroe and Columbia 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%	14.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	7%±3.7Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,150±$7kHighest 11% below NH	$57,917±$13kLowest 42% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$312,700±$58kHighest 22% below NH	$196,400±$29kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$218Highest 26% below NH	$792±$333Lowest 47% below NH
	Monroe and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,661Highest 60% below NH	$2,009Lowest 70% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±39Highest NH: 48.2%	9.1%±95.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Monroe and Columbia 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%	10.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.2%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Columbia and Monroe 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 Our Story	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.