What stands out worked out from the figures below

Southwick has the most people working from home (16.2%).

Monson has the most affordable homes ($348k 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.

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

Measure	Southwick	Monson
People
Population	9,217Highest	8,136Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±1.8Lowest 17% above MA	47.8±3.2Highest 20% above MA
	Monson and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	18.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Southwick and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Monson and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	29.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Monson and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,462±$16kHighest 16% above MA	$96,688±$14kLowest 7% below MA
	Southwick and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$397,500±$27kHighest 29% below MA	$348,400±$15kLowest 38% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,332±$72Highest 24% below MA	$871±$215Lowest 51% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,331Highest 11% below MA	$4,877Lowest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	48.9%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Southwick and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.7%±7.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Southwick 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	#211 of 282 in MA	#235 of 282 in MA
School district	Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District	Monson
High school in town	Southwick Regional School	Monson High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	8.2Lowest
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.