Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Everett vs Sturbridge 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 most kids (23.2% under 18).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
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 | Sturbridge | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
50,045Highest |
9,960 |
4,946Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% 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 |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
| Hampden and Sturbridge 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 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% |
19.8%±3 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% |
49.3% 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% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest 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±$14k 17% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$104,536±$16k about the MA average |
| Sturbridge and Wilbraham 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 |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658Highest 11% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,520 9% above 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% |
42%±17.7 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Everett | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Everett High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
12.1 |
7.7Lowest |
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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.