Compare towns

Monroe vs Reading vs Barnet

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the highest household income ($88k).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Barnet has the most people working from home (55%).

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.

MeasureMonroeReadingBarnet
People
Population
786Highest
699
61Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
51±10.4Lowest
31% above U.S.
51.1±7.6
31% above U.S.
62.2±45.8Highest
60% above U.S.
Barnet and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±7.6
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
31.1%±29.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Barnet and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.3%±8.9
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
36.1%±44.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnet 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±23.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Reading 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.
$85,000±$19k
5% above U.S.
$57,917±$16kLowest
28% below U.S.
Monroe and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$312,700±$58k
6% below U.S.
$377,200±$72kHighest
13% above U.S.
$204,200±$38kLowest
39% below U.S.
Reading and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$218Highest
22% below U.S.
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
—
Monroe and Reading 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.
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
$2,950
5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48%±39Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
—
Reading 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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
47.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
—
Work from home
3.2%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6
U.S.: 15.1%
55%±29Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Barnet and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Monroe School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.