What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wilbraham	Douglas
People
Population	14,572Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA	44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA
	Wilbraham and Douglas 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%	21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wilbraham and Douglas 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%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas 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±$14kLowest 17% above MA	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA
	Douglas 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	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wilbraham and Douglas 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%	4.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	Douglas
High school in town	Minnechaug Regional High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.