MetricMonroe, NCWaxhaw, NC
Population36,75922,275
Median Household Income$72,540$131,894
Median Rent$1,246/mo$1,840/mo
Median Home Value$309,100$549,400
Cost of Living (US = 100)9797
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income46.4%30%
Poverty Rate13.3%4.5%
Unemployment Rate3.9%3.4% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k53046
Property Crime Rate /100k2,333357
Median AQI4040
Good AQI Days /yr——
Summer Highs89°F89°F
Winter Lows32°F34°F
Snowfall2 in/yr3 in/yr
Avg Commute30.1 min32 min
Hospitals1—
Avg Hospital Rating4.0 / 5—
Students per Teacher15.115.1
College Degree Rate24.1%55%
Foreign-Born %17.8%15.6%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+23.1%+12.6%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.