Compare towns
Hampden vs Needham vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering HampdenMonson
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the oldest population (median age 50.9).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946Lowest |
32,459Highest |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±2.7 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Wilbraham 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 about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$122,051±$14k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181Lowest 3% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #199 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Needham | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham 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 |
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.