Compare towns
Webster vs Whitman vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Wilbraham has the most homeowners (88.8%).
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 | Webster | Whitman | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
15,295 |
14,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| Wilbraham and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
| Wilbraham and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wilbraham and Whitman 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Whitman-Hanson | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 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.