What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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	Pelham	Wilbraham
People
Population	14,449Lowest	14,572Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S.	44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S.
	Wilbraham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wilbraham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.	$122,051±$14kLowest 51% above U.S.
	Pelham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.	$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average	$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S.
	Pelham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.	$6,658Lowest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.1%±23.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 120 in NH	#88 of 282 in MA
School district	Pelham School District	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Pelham High School	Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	14.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.