What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilbraham has the most homeowners (88.8%).

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wilbraham	Lowell
People
Population	14,572Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA
Kids under 18	23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wilbraham and Lowell 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%	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA	$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA
	Lowell 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 33% below MA	$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,658Highest 11% above MA	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wilbraham and Lowell 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%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	28 minHighest 4% below MA
Work from home	12.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wilbraham and Lowell 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	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	Lowell
High school in town	Minnechaug Regional High	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.