Compare towns
Belchertown vs Ogunquit vs Wilbraham vs Pepperell
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
1,379Lowest |
14,572 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Pepperell 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest 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% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Pepperell 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Wilbraham 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Belchertown 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. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above 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% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #168 of 282 in MA | — | #88 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belchertown | — | Hampden-Wilbraham | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | — | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town |
| 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.