Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Hooksett vs Sturbridge
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 most kids (23.2% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Hooksett | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572 |
15,057Highest |
9,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Wilbraham 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| 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 25% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Hooksett School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.