Compare towns
Monroe vs Middlefield vs Hawley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($333k median).
Hawley has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Monroe | Middlefield | Hawley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 122Lowest |
352Highest |
277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -26.1% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
56.9±3.7 42% above MA |
56.8±7.2Lowest 42% above MA |
| Monroe and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±28 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.7%±10Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hawley and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±27.3 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
37.2%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hawley and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
39.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.2%±5.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$87,500±$26kLowest 16% below MA |
| Middlefield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$332,800±$48kHighest 41% below MA |
$309,600±$38k 45% below MA |
| Middlefield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,625±$1k 49% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$4,097 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 56 minHighest 93% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±12.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hawley and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.