Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($335k 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 | Sutton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
10,144 |
9,452Lowest |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8Lowest 14% 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Ludlow 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
27%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Williston 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. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 113% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,918Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Ludlow 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Williston 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Sutton | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town | Sutton High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
— | 12.6 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.