Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Upton vs Mendon 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Belchertown has the youngest population (median age 43.9).
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 | Upton | Mendon | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
8,189 |
1,113Lowest |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 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±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15k 34% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Mendon 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Belchertown 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 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 |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Mendon 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Blackstone Valley | — | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— | 11.9 |
| 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.