Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Gardner vs Sutton
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).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Gardner | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572 |
21,148Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Gardner 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham and Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
| Sutton and Wilbraham 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham and Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Gardner | Sutton |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Gardner High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
13.5 |
12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.