What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Concord has the most people working from home (8.7%).

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	Concord
People
Population	786Lowest	1,145Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S.	49.8±6.6Lowest 28% above U.S.
	Monroe and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22%	15.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Monroe and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Monroe and Concord 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 U.S.: 35.7%	22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Concord 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 9% above U.S.	$73,304±$9kLowest 9% below U.S.
	Monroe and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S.	$159,300±$8kLowest 52% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$218Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,111±$29Highest 21% below U.S.
	Concord and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S.	$3,026Highest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.3%±82.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Monroe and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Concord 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	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
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.