Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Douglas 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).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Douglas | Sutton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
9,207Lowest |
9,452 |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Ludlow 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% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 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±$14k 17% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
| Douglas and Sutton 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 |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Douglas and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 11% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,918Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham and Ludlow 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% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Douglas | Sutton | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
7.2Lowest |
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.