What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratford has the most people working from home (8.4%).

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

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	Stratford	Monroe
People
Population	950Highest	786Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.8±16.8Lowest 15% above NH	51±10.4Highest 18% above NH
	Monroe and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±7.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Stratford and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Monroe and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	25.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2.7Highest NH: 6%	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Stratford and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,583±$14kLowest 50% below NH	$88,150±$7kHighest 11% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$161,100±$48kLowest 60% below NH	$312,700±$58kHighest 22% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$264Lowest 48% below NH	$1,104±$218Highest 26% below NH
	Monroe and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,512Lowest 62% below NH	$2,661Highest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64%±53.6Highest NH: 48.2%	48%±39Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Stratford and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 16% below NH	27 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	8.4%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8%	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Stratford and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stratford 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.