Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Needham vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Needham | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572 |
32,459Highest |
9,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| 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%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Wilbraham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$14kLowest 17% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | — | 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 |
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.