Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Smithfield vs Belchertown
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).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Smithfield | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572Lowest |
22,233Highest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown 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% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Smithfield 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% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15k 34% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown 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. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Smithfield 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. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Belchertown 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. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belchertown and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Smithfield | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Smithfield High School | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
11.8Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.