Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Needham vs Sutton vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Sutton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
32,459Highest |
9,452 |
4,946Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 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±$14k 17% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,181Lowest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Needham | Sutton | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Needham High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.