Compare towns
Wales vs Ware vs Monson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wales has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Monson has the most expensive 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.
| Measure | Wales | Ware | Monson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,929Lowest |
6,369 |
8,136Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±4.7 6% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
47.8±3.2Highest 20% 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 | 23.1%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.8Highest 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+ | 22.4% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Monson and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,006±$6k 14% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$96,688±$14kHighest 7% 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 | $296,200±$26k 47% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$348,400±$15kHighest 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$242Highest 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$871±$215Lowest 51% below MA |
| Wales and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,534 24% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,877Highest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±7.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Wales 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #235 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wales | — | Monson |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Monson High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.