What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Monson has the most people working from home (19.6%).

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	Bridgewater	Monson
People
Population	484Lowest	596Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-11.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±8Highest 9% above ME	47.4±13.1Lowest 6% above ME
	Bridgewater and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.3%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Monson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.5%±2.8Lowest ME: 22.4%	31.4%±10.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Monson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	18%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	0.5%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Bridgewater and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,417±$15kHighest 12% below ME	$56,017±$4kLowest 25% below ME
	Bridgewater and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$154,900±$78kLowest 48% below ME	$178,100±$71kHighest 40% below ME
	Monson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$768±$116 33% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,417Lowest 53% below ME	$1,664Highest 45% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±59.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	45.5%±59.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Monson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Lowest ME: 10.7%	14.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 10% below ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	7.5%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	19.6%±17.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Monson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.