Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Rowley vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering WilbrahamLudlow
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
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 | Rowley | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572Highest |
6,251 |
4,946Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Lowest 11% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
| Hampden and Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham and Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Rowley 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 26% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
| Rowley and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 11% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,181Lowest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
28 minHighest 3% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wilbraham and Rowley 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Triton | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2 |
— | — |
| 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.

