Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Hampton vs Upton vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Belchertown has the youngest population (median age 43.9).
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 | Hampton | Upton | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
1,647Lowest |
8,189 |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown 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 51% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 25% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 113% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belchertown and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Hampton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Hampton School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.