Compare towns
Monroe vs Unity vs Lempster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Lempster has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Barnet has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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.
| Measure | Monroe | Unity | Lempster | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 786Lowest |
1,375 |
953 |
1,855Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Unity and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$86,607±$12k 7% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,558 46% above U.S. |
$4,489 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Barnet 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnet and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Monroe School District | Unity School District | Lempster School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.