Compare towns
Hampden vs Ware vs Monson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering HampdenWilbraham
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Hampden | Ware | Monson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946Lowest |
6,369 |
8,136Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
47.8±3.2 20% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$16kHighest about the MA average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$96,688±$14k 7% below MA |
| 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 36% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$348,400±$15k 38% below MA |
| 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 36% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$871±$215Lowest 51% below MA |
| Hampden and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181Highest 3% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,877 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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 MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±7.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #235 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | — | Monson |
| High school 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 |
MA 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.