Compare towns
Mapleton vs Wilbraham vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Wilbraham has the most expensive homes ($416k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Wilbraham | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
14,572Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Wilbraham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | — | #88 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hampden-Wilbraham | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town |
| 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.