Compare towns
Washington vs Monroe vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Middlefield has the most people working from home (13.2%).
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 | Washington | Monroe | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Highest |
122Lowest |
352 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Lowest 41% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
56.9±3.7 42% above MA |
| Monroe and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Monroe and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
31.1%±27.3 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA |
— | $103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $2,625±$1k 49% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield and Washington 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 | 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.