Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Upton vs Sutton vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Belchertown has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
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 | Sutton | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
8,189Lowest |
9,452 |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA |
| Upton and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 17% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA |
| Belchertown and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 11% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$5,810Lowest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Belchertown and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.6 |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.