What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.7%).

Wawayanda has the highest household income ($143k).

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	Wawayanda
People
Population	9,515Highest	7,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	+3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	32.6±5.1Lowest 18% below NY	38.1±3.7Highest 4% below NY
	Wawayanda and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.4%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5%	22.4%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Monroe and Wawayanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	9.8%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	15.3%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	36.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 7%	8%±3.1Highest NY: 7%
	Wawayanda and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,851±$7kLowest 28% above NY	$143,017±$23kHighest 66% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,800±$17kHighest about the NY average	$401,000±$30kLowest 5% below NY
	Monroe and Wawayanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,202±$203Highest 36% above NY	$1,718±$205Lowest 6% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY	$7,936Lowest 21% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.3%±15.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.7%±25.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wawayanda and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest NY: 14%	5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 21 yrs newer than NY	1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest about the NY average	34 minHighest 4% above NY
Work from home	8.3%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%	8.2%±4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Monroe and Wawayanda are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#149 of 484 in NY
School district	—	MINISINK VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	MINISINK VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.