What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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	Wakefield
People
Population	786Lowest	5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51±10.4Highest 18% above NH	49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH
	Monroe and Wakefield 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%	18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Monroe and Wakefield 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%	18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Monroe and Wakefield 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 NH: 40.6%	26.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	1.4%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
	Wakefield 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	$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average
	Wakefield 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	$322,800±$43kHighest 20% below NH
	Wakefield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH	$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH
	Wakefield 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	$2,954Highest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±39Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Monroe and Wakefield 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%	7.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#118 of 120 in NH
School district	Monroe School District	Wakefield 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.