Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Plainville 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).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Plainville | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572 |
17,551Highest |
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±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Plainville 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% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above 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. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% 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±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%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 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Plainville High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
11.4 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.