City profile · Massachusetts · Census ACS 2023

Monson Center, MA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Monson Center - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,794
Residents
$58,603
Median income
$279,500
Median home
$1,734
Median rent (state)

Monson Center - the verdict

Monson Center ranks in the 33rd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

33rd
percentile, household income
62nd
percentile, home value
70th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Monson Center, MA

1,794 people live in Monson Center, Massachusetts - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Monson Center brings in $58,603 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 20.0%. Monson Center's housing stock carries a median value of $279,500, and the median resident age is 47.3 years. Educational attainment runs 24.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Massachusetts carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Massachusetts scores 105.8 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,734 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Massachusetts's average monthly utility costs around $330 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 92.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

1,794 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Massachusetts

Median Household Income

$58,603 /yr

Poverty 20.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.8 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Massachusetts average

How does Monson Center compare to other US cities?

Here's how Monson Center stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 33% higher than other cities
Home value 62% pricier than other cities
Median rent 70% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Monson Center's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Massachusetts, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

33rdIncome percentile

33rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Monson Center's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$279,500 38th percentile more affordable than 38% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Monson Center $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Monson Center, MA Monson Center, MA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Monson Center, MA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Monson Center, MA median $58,603/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Monson Center, MA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Monson Center, MA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,794
Median Income
$58,603
Median Home Value
$279,500
Median Age
47.3
Poverty Rate
20.0%
Labor force participation
54.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.8%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.2%
Carpool
6.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
15.0%
Other
1.6%

Based on 819 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Massachusetts - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$160
avg/month
Natural Gas
$110
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$330
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Massachusetts state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Massachusetts state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Monson Center sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.8
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,734/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Massachusetts

Rutland
1,796 people
Lenox
1,809 people
Essex
1,775 people
South Deerfield
1,822 people
Bourne
1,765 people
Shelburne Falls
1,755 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Monson Center's 1,794 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Princeville, HI
1,794 people
Groton, SD
1,794 people
Twin Lakes, VA
1,794 people
Calico Rock, AR
1,795 people
Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, CA
1,795 people
Rainbow, CA
1,793 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Monson Center's $58,603 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Selma, VA
$58,603 median income
Karnes City, TX
$58,601 median income
Lawrenceville, GA
$58,606 median income
Archer City, TX
$58,607 median income
DeRidder, LA
$58,596 median income
Owen, WI
$58,611 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Monson Center, MA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Monson Center, MA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.7% White 92.5% Black or African American 2.0% Asian 2.6% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 2.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Monson Center compares to nearby Massachusetts cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Monson Center (this city) 1,794 $58,603
Rutland 1,796 $102,885
Lenox 1,809 $58,920
Essex 1,775 $156,094
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Monson Center, MA?

What is the population of Monson Center, MA? +

1,794 people live in Monson Center, MA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Monson Center, MA? +

Median annual household income in Monson Center runs $58,603, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Monson Center? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Monson Center; the closest available measure is the Massachusetts state average, a cost of living index of 105.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Massachusetts vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Monson Center, MA? +

The median home value in Monson Center is $279,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.