What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gilsum has the most people working from home (11.9%).

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	Gilsum
People
Population	786Highest	716Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51±10.4Highest 18% above NH	44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH
	Monroe and Gilsum 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%	12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Monroe and Gilsum 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%	19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	3.1%±2.3Highest NH: 6%
	Gilsum 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	$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH
	Monroe and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$312,700±$58kHighest 22% below NH	$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH
	Monroe and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH	$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH
	Gilsum and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,661Lowest 60% below NH	$5,579Highest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±39Lowest NH: 48.2%	76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Gilsum 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%	13.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.9%±8.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Gilsum 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	Monadnock Regional School District
High school in town	None 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.