Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Plainfield vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering WilbrahamLudlow
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilbraham has the most people working from home (12.9%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Plainfield | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572 |
15,141Highest |
4,946Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,181 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Plainfield 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wilbraham and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Plainfield School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.