Compare towns
Hampden vs Dunbarton vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering HampdenMonson
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Hampden | Dunbarton | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946 |
3,097Lowest |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampden and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,536±$16kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,200±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181Lowest 98% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wilbraham and Dunbarton 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Dunbarton School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.2 |
| 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.