Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Belchertown has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Thompson | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572 |
9,337Lowest |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belchertown and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belchertown and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Thompson School District | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
7.9Lowest |
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.