Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Dedham vs Sutton vs Ludlow
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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Dedham | Sutton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
25,237Highest |
9,452Lowest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Lowest 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
44.3±1.8Lowest 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Wilbraham 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.9% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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±$14k 17% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
| Sutton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,918Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Dedham | Sutton | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Dedham High | Sutton High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.6 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.