Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Newfields vs Sutton vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Sutton | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
2,023Lowest |
9,452 |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Belchertown 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 51% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,810Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belchertown and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Newfields School District | Sutton | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town | Sutton High School | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
— | 12.6 |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.