What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carver has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

Monson has the most affordable homes ($348k median).

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	Carver	Monson
People
Population	11,712Highest	8,136Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.5Lowest 15% above MA	47.8±3.2Highest 20% above MA
	Monson and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Monson and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Monson and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	29.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Monson and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,250±$23kLowest 12% below MA	$96,688±$14kHighest 7% below MA
	Monson and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$434,200±$21kHighest 23% below MA	$348,400±$15kLowest 38% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,827±$345Highest 4% above MA	$871±$215Lowest 51% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,455Highest 8% above MA	$4,877Lowest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8%	48.9%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Carver and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	13.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6%	10.7%±7.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Carver and Monson 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	#237 of 282 in MA	#235 of 282 in MA
School district	Carver	Monson
High school in town	Carver Middle/High School	Monson High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	8.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.