Compare towns
Belchertown vs Hooksett vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belchertown has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Belchertown | Hooksett | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
15,057 |
14,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,068±$15kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belchertown and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belchertown and Hooksett 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 | #168 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belchertown | Hooksett School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | 14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.