Compare towns
Sutton vs Foster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Foster has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Foster | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
4,523Lowest |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Foster 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham and Foster 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. |
$113,646±$18kLowest 41% 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. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Foster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,658Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Foster 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Foster | 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.