Compare towns
Hamilton vs Sutton vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the most expensive homes ($720k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k median).
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 | Hamilton | Sutton | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600Lowest |
9,452 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA |
| Sutton and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
| Hamilton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,658Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Sutton 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Sutton | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Sutton High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
12.6 |
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.