What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monson has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

Westfield has the most people working from home (36.6%).

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	Westfield
People
Population	596Highest	389Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-17.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.4±13.1Lowest 6% above ME	47.5±5Highest 6% above ME
	Westfield and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1%	8.7%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	31.4%±10.7Highest ME: 22.4%	27.2%±7.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Monson and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18%Lowest ME: 36.2%	18.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	0%±4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Monson and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,017±$4kHighest 25% below ME	$52,917±$17kLowest 29% below ME
	Monson and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$178,100±$71kHighest 40% below ME	$134,400±$61kLowest 55% below ME
	Monson and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$950±$175 17% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,664Highest 45% below ME	$1,550Lowest 49% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±59.6Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Monson and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	19.6%±17.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	36.6%±31.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Westfield and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.