What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoddard has the most people working from home (9.5%).

Monroe has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

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	Stoddard	Monroe
People
Population	1,072Highest	786Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	+9.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53±4Highest 22% above NH	51±10.4Lowest 18% above NH
	Stoddard and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Monroe and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Monroe and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Stoddard and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,904±$11kHighest 4% below NH	$88,150±$7kLowest 11% below NH
	Stoddard and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,300±$20kHighest 18% below NH	$312,700±$58kLowest 22% below NH
	Stoddard and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH	$1,104±$218Highest 26% below NH
	Monroe and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,316Highest 35% below NH	$2,661Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	48%±39Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Stoddard and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 25% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	9.5%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Stoddard School District	Monroe 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.