Compare towns
Sandgate vs Sutton vs Wilbraham vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Sandgate | Sutton | Wilbraham | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
9,452 |
14,572Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sutton | Hampden-Wilbraham | — |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Minnechaug Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
14.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.