Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Lowell 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%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Lowell | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572 |
118,368Highest |
4,946Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 11% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest 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% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% 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±$25k 26% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% 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±$241 33% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658Highest 11% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Lowell | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Lowell High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
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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.