What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lakeville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lakeville	Wilbraham
People
Population	11,944Lowest	14,572Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±1.9Lowest 9% above MA	44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA
	Wilbraham and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wilbraham and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	51.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lakeville and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,984±$11kHighest 29% above MA	$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA
	Lakeville and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$565,900±$27kHighest about the MA average	$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,884±$466Highest 7% above MA	$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,536Lowest 8% below MA	$6,658Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±18.2Highest MA: 51.8%	53.1%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lakeville and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest MA: 10%	4.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%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
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	15.2%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lakeville 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	#96 of 282 in MA	#88 of 282 in MA
School district	Freetown-Lakeville	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Apponequet Regional High	Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	14.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.