Compare towns
Hampden vs Union 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).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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 | Union | Monson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
944Lowest |
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±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
47.8±3.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Monson and Union 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% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampden and Union 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Monson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,536±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$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. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
— | $871±$215Lowest 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. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$4,877 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Monson and Hampden 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 | Union 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.