Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572 |
10,144Lowest |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% 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±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Williston and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Belchertown 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.