Compare towns
Sutton vs Ashland vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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.
| Measure | Sutton | Ashland | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
18,873Highest |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA |
| Sutton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$7,444Highest 24% above MA |
$6,658Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Ashland | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Ashland High | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
14.0 |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.