Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Lawrence vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering WilbrahamLudlow
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilbraham has the most people working from home (12.9%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Lawrence | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572 |
88,736Highest |
4,946Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 11% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Wilbraham 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% 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±$25kHighest 26% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
| Wilbraham and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658Highest 11% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence 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% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Wilbraham and Hampden 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Lawrence | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
13.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.