Compare towns
Belchertown vs Ogunquit vs Wilbraham vs New Salem
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 renters (12.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
New Salem has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Wilbraham | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
1,379 |
14,572 |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
55.6±2.4 43% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and New Salem 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±4.5 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%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±6.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,068±$15k 34% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$79,688±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Wilbraham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$359,000±$40kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,194±$88 15% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810 86% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,509 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
86.7%±25.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Salem and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #168 of 282 in MA | — | #88 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Belchertown | — | Hampden-Wilbraham | — |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | — | 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 | 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.