Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Windsor Locks vs Upton 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 homeowners (88.8%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Windsor Locks | Upton | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
12,579 |
8,189Lowest |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Belchertown 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Windsor Locks School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Windsor Locks High School | Blackstone Valley | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
8.9Lowest |
11.2 |
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.