What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wales has the most kids (30.2% under 18).

Monmouth has the oldest population (median age 46.2).

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	Wales	Monmouth
People
Population	1,924Lowest	4,162Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35.1±4.2Lowest 22% below ME	46.2±1.5Highest 3% above ME
Kids under 18	30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1%	19%±6.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Wales and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.4%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	33.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8%	2.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Wales and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,004±$5kHighest 3% above ME	$74,648±$18kLowest about the ME average
	Wales and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$250,400±$28kLowest 16% below ME	$274,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME
	Monmouth and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,154±$64Lowest about the ME average	$1,271±$175Highest 12% above ME
	Monmouth and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,578Lowest 15% below ME	$3,139Highest 3% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.3%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4%	54.6%±46.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Wales and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME	1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 14% above ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	22.2%±13.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	23%±11Highest ME: 15.9%
	Monmouth and Wales 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	—	#51 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 04	RSU 02
High school in town	Oak Hill High School	Monmouth Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.