Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Suffield vs Brooklyn 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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
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 | Suffield | Brooklyn | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
15,702Highest |
8,517 |
4,946Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Brooklyn 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% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Brooklyn 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn 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±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Suffield 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. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
| Suffield 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. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,181 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Suffield School District | Brooklyn School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Suffield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.