Compare towns
Monroe vs Townsend vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Townsend | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 786Lowest |
9,100Highest |
942 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.6±9.7Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Warren and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.6%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$62,981±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$237,200±$35kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$218Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,167±$586 17% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,299 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.4%±42Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warren and Townsend 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 | Monroe School District | North Middlesex | Warren School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.