Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Everett vs Ludlow vs Hampden
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 highest household income ($122k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hampden has the oldest population (median age 50.9).
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 | Everett | Ludlow | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
50,045Highest |
20,904 |
4,946Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 11% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Wilbraham 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$104,536±$16k about the MA average |
| Wilbraham and Hampden 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658Highest 11% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Everett | Ludlow | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Everett High | Ludlow Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
12.1 |
11.1Lowest |
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| 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.