Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Needham vs Belchertown
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).
Belchertown has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
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 | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572Lowest |
32,459Highest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown 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% |
19.5%±2.9Lowest 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% |
21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown 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% |
47.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,051±$14k 17% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,292±$230 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,810Lowest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Belchertown and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Needham | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Needham High | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
11.9Lowest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.