Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Thompson vs Sutton vs Ludlow
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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Sutton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
9,337Lowest |
9,452 |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27% 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% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 25% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 113% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,918 58% 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% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Thompson School District | Sutton | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Sutton High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
7.9Lowest |
12.6 |
11.1 |
| 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.