Compare towns
Monroe vs Townsend vs Florida
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering MonroeRowe
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Florida has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Townsend | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 122Lowest |
9,100Highest |
668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
| Monroe and Florida 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Monroe 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe and Florida 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% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
| Townsend and Florida 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 |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$246,800±$19k 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,053 66% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Florida 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
91.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 56 minHighest 93% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Townsend and Florida 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Florida |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.