What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monson has the most affordable homes ($348k median).

Acushnet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Monson	Acushnet
People
Population	8,136Lowest	10,624Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.8±3.2Highest 20% above MA	46±2.8Lowest 15% above MA
	Monson and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Acushnet and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Acushnet and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Monson and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,688±$14kHighest 7% below MA	$89,503±$9kLowest 14% below MA
	Monson and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$348,400±$15kLowest 38% below MA	$436,400±$34kHighest 22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$871±$215Lowest 51% below MA	$1,170±$354Highest 34% below MA
	Acushnet and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,877Highest 19% below MA	$4,647Lowest 22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Acushnet and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest MA: 10%	6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	10.7%±7.5Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Monson and Acushnet 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	#235 of 282 in MA	#118 of 282 in MA
School district	Monson	Acushnet
High school in town	Monson High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.