Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Plainfield vs Sutton vs Hampden
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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Sutton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
15,141Highest |
9,452 |
4,946Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%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. |
44.3±2.5 14% above 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest 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% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above 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. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 113% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% 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% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton 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% |
5.8% 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% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Plainfield School District | Sutton | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Plainfield High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.