What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

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.

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

Measure	Monson	Wales
People
Population	8,136Highest	1,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-0.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.8±3.2Highest 20% above MA	42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA
	Monson and Wales 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%	23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wales and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%	19.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Monson and Wales 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%	22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Monson and Wales 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	$89,006±$6kLowest 14% below MA
	Monson and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$348,400±$15kHighest 38% below MA	$296,200±$26kLowest 47% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$871±$215Lowest 51% below MA	$1,104±$242Highest 37% below MA
	Wales 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	$4,534Lowest 24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wales 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%	5.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 18% above MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	10.7%±7.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.6%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wales and Monson 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	—
School district	Monson	Wales
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.