Compare towns
Belchertown vs Orange vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Wilbraham has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Orange | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
7,573Lowest |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| 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%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 4% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
| Belchertown and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810 3% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Belchertown and Wilbraham 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belchertown | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
9.0Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.