Town · Massachusetts
Monson, Massachusetts
Monson, town, in Hampden County, Massachusetts. Monson had 8,175 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 8,150 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 8,136 (±30). GEOID 2501342145.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,175
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,150 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,136 ±30
Median household income
$96,688
±$13,868 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$348,400
±$15,433 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$871
±$215 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Monson and what county is it in?
Monson is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts. It covers 44.2 square miles of land, 184 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Monson: Monson Center (CDP, 1,952 in 2020).
Monson is in the Springfield, MA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Monson, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 8,175 people lived in Monson on July 1, 2025, up 0.2% since 2020, slower than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 8,150 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 8,136 (±30).
| Measure | Monson | Hampden County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,136±30 | 462,815 | −643 |
| Households | 3,226±213 | 184,471 | −246 |
| Average household size | 2.51±0.16 | 2.44 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,451±255 | 197,591 | no clear change |
Monson's population since 2000
From 8,359 in 2000 to 8,175 in 2025: down 2.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Monson as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Monson?
The median resident of Monson is 47.8 years old; 18.1% are under 18 and 23.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.7%. 2.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Monson | Hampden County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8±3.2 | 40.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.1%±3.2 pts | 20.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.2%±2.9 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Male | 49.8%±2.8 pts | 48.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.7%±3.2 pts | 27.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.4%±4.3 pts | 59.3% | −7.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.6 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.6 pts | 2.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.7%±2.5 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.9%±1.3 pts | 9.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.9%±1.6 pts | 25.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.8%±2.7 pts | 5.5% | – |
| With a disability | 14.7%±2.8 pts | 16.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.5%±1.0 pts | 3.0% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.6%±2.5 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 29.2%±5.2 pts | 29.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.1%±2.3 pts | 12.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 97.9%±1.2 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.4%±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Monson earn?
Half of Monson's 3,226 households earn less than $96,688 a year (±$13,868), against $71,306 in Hampden County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $102,656 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Monson | Hampden County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $96,688±$13,868 | $71,306 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $116,185±$12,470 | $94,811 | – |
| Per capita income | $46,580±$5,088 | $38,219 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.5%±3.5 pts | 16.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.2%±6.5 pts | 22.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.6%±4.7 pts | 25.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.4%±3.9 pts | 92.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.8%±3.2 pts | 89.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Monson?
Owners occupy 82.5% of Monson's occupied homes and renters 17.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $348,400 by its owner (±$15,433). The median renter pays $871 a month including utilities, and 22.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Monson | Hampden County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $348,400±$15,433 | $298,800 | +$41,219 |
| Median gross rent | $871±$215 | $1,136 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 22.8%±12.1 pts | 44.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,140±$181 | $1,966 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 82.5%±5.4 pts | 62.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 17.5%±5.4 pts | 37.8% | – |
| Housing units | 3,451±255 | 197,591 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.3%±7.4 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.2%±5.3 pts | 56.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.4%±2.4 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8%±1.0 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.0%±2.1 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 25.5%±6.0 pts | 27.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.8%±4.3 pts | 12.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Monson building?
Builders took permits for 15 new housing units in Monson in 2025 (15 in single-family houses), 1.8 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Monson work and get to work?
81.3% of Monson's workers drive alone and 10.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 34.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.2%.
| Measure | Monson | Hampden County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.4%±5.3 pts | 60.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.2%±2.7 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 81.3%±7.1 pts | 76.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.4%±2.1 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.3%±1.7 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Walked | 0.6%±0.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.7%±6.9 pts | 10.5% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 34.4 min±3.8 | 22.7 min | +4.7 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Monson?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Monson, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $93,813 (Tract 8137.02) to $97,281 (Tract 8137.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8137.02Hampden County | 4,816 | $93,813 |
| Tract 8137.01Hampden County | 3,320 | $97,281 |
| Tract 8103Hampden County | 3,320 | $91,926 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Monson) · Census block assignment files
How does Monson compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Monson is the 1,519th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 124th-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Monson ranks 295th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 124th | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 214th | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 404th | 461 |
| Median household income | 295th | 453 |
| Per capita income | 357th | 460 |
| Median home value | 395th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 397th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 113th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 394th | 459 |
| Median age | 153rd | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 194th | 460 |
| Work from home | 362nd | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 88th | 459 |
Monson's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Monson with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Monson?
14 of the 57 figures for Monson on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Monson are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.