Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Plainfield vs Sturbridge
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572 |
15,141Highest |
9,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Wilbraham 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% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Sturbridge 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3% 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%±1.5Lowest 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±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Sturbridge 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Wilbraham 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 | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Plainfield School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Plainfield High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
10.3 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.