Compare towns
Hampden vs Hampton vs Monson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering HampdenWilbraham
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Monson has the most renters (17.5% rent).
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 | Hampden | Hampton | Monson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
1,647Lowest |
8,136Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.8±3.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampden and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Monson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$96,688±$14kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,200±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$348,400±$15k 5% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$871±$215Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181Highest 98% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,877 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | — | #235 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Hampton School District | Monson |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Monson High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.