Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Chicopee vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Chicopee has the most renters (44.3% rent).
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Wilbraham | Chicopee | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572Lowest |
55,295Highest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
41.9±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$108,068±$15k 4% above MA |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA |
| Belchertown and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658Highest 11% above MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$5,810 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Belchertown and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Belchertown and Wilbraham 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 | #88 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Chicopee | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.