What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Monroe	Strafford
People
Population	786Lowest	1,372Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51±10.4Lowest 31% 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Monroe 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Monroe and Strafford 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%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford 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±$7kLowest 9% above 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±$58kLowest 6% below U.S.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$218Lowest 22% 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.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Monroe and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2% U.S.: 12.5%	5.2% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Monroe School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.