Compare towns

Hampden vs Putney vs Monson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Monson has the most kids (18.1% under 18).

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.

MeasureHampdenPutneyMonson
People
Population
4,946
2,622Lowest
8,136Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.9±3.3Highest
31% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below 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%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
18.1%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Monson and Putney 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%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
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%
48.6%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%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,536±$16kHighest
29% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$96,688±$14k
20% above U.S.
Hampden and Monson 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.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% 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±$107Highest
20% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$871±$215
38% below U.S.
Hampden and Monson 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.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$4,877Lowest
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.9%±42.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±13.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney 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%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
9.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±7.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney 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 #32 of 70 in VT #235 of 282 in MA
School district Hampden-Wilbraham Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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.