What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k median).

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wilbraham	Pelham
People
Population	14,572Highest	14,449Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S.	41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Wilbraham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wilbraham and Pelham 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%	16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham 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 51% above U.S.	$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.
	Pelham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S.	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average
	Pelham and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,658Lowest 113% above U.S.	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±23.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham 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 U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#88 of 282 in MA	#48 of 120 in NH
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	Pelham School District
High school in town	Minnechaug Regional High	Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.