Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Thompson vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering WilbrahamLudlow
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).
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 | Thompson | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572Highest |
9,337 |
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. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Hampden 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampden and Thompson 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% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham and Hampden 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. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Hampden 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. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Hampden 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. |
$6,181 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #199 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Thompson School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.