Compare towns
Goshen vs Ware vs Unity vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goshen has the most kids (26.8% under 18).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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.
| Measure | Goshen | Ware | Unity | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,042 |
10,048Highest |
1,375 |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±16.1 39% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
| Unity and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Goshen and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$26k 13% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,600±$53kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,938±$416Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
| Goshen and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,760 53% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±74.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Unity 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Ware | Unity School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.