Compare towns
Sutton vs Chester vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Chester | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
3,825Lowest |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest 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+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Wilbraham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham and Chester 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 82% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above 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 | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25k 33% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Chester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,364Lowest 104% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chester and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Chester 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Chester School District | 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 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.