What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).

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	Stark
People
Population	786Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51±10.4Lowest 18% above NH	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
	Stark 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%	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Monroe and Stark 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%	27.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Monroe and Stark 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%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%
	Stark 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	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
	Monroe and Stark 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	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$218 26% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,661Highest 60% below NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±39Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stark 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%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Monroe School District	Stark School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.