Compare towns
Monroe vs Rowe vs Ware vs Mount Washington
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).
Rowe has the most homeowners (90.8%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Mount Washington has the most expensive homes ($714k median).
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 | Rowe | Ware | Mount Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 122Lowest |
453 |
6,369Highest |
193 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +1.6% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
52.1±10.7 30% above MA |
| Monroe and Mount Washington 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% |
23%±5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.5%±13 MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% MA: 47.3% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±7.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$142,500±$26kHighest 37% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$714,300±$141kHighest 27% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
— |
| Rowe and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,053 66% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$3,408Highest 43% below MA |
$3,316 45% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
75%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Mount Washington and Ware 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% |
15.8% MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 56 minHighest 93% above MA |
36 min 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±14.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Mount Washington and Ware 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Rowe | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.