Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Reading vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Reading | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572Lowest |
25,612Highest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.9% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown 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 17% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,292±$230 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 11% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,810Lowest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Belchertown and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Reading | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Reading Memorial High | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.