Compare towns
Hampden vs Newfields 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 oldest population (median age 50.9).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Newfields | Monson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
2,023Lowest |
8,136Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.8±3.2 23% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Monson 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampden and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Monson 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$96,688±$14kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$348,400±$15kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$871±$215Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181 98% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,877Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monson and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #199 of 282 in MA | — | #235 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Newfields 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 | 6 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.