Compare towns
Sutton vs Bernardston 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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Sutton | Bernardston | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,164Lowest |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
44.3±2.7Lowest 11% above MA |
| Bernardston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
$122,051±$14k 17% above MA |
| Sutton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
| Bernardston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Pioneer Valley | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 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.
