Compare towns

Monroe vs Ryegate vs Strafford

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).

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.

MeasureMonroeRyegateStrafford
People
Population
786Lowest
1,059
1,372Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51±10.4
31% above U.S.
41.2±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
Strafford and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±7.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Ryegate and Strafford 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%
22.1%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Monroe and Ryegate 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%
29.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,150±$7k
9% above U.S.
$66,484±$15kLowest
18% below U.S.
$110,833±$19kHighest
37% above U.S.
Strafford and Monroe 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.
$219,300±$32kLowest
34% below U.S.
$431,300±$40kHighest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$218
22% below U.S.
$908±$236Lowest
36% below U.S.
$1,125±$789Highest
20% below U.S.
Strafford 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.
$3,472
11% above U.S.
$7,149Highest
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48%±39
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±29.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ryegate 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%
14.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1949Lowest
31 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
3.2%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.2%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Strafford and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Monroe School District — Strafford School District
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.