What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Temple has the most people working from home (16.9%).

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	Temple
People
Population	786Lowest	1,363Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51±10.4Highest 18% above NH	49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH
	Monroe and Temple 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%	14.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Monroe and Temple 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%	17.8%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	36.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	1.7%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
	Temple 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 11% below NH	$94,107±$15kHighest 5% below NH
	Temple 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 22% below NH	$401,000±$27kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH	$1,169±$523Highest 22% below NH
	Temple 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	$6,983Highest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±39Highest NH: 48.2%	30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Monroe and Temple 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%	9.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	37 minHighest 37% above NH
Work from home	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.9%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Monroe School District	Contoocook Valley 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.