Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Woonsocket vs Sutton 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Woonsocket | Sutton | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,572 |
43,521Highest |
9,452Lowest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Wilbraham 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15k 34% 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658 113% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 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 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Sutton | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Woonsocket High School | Sutton High School | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2 |
15.2Highest |
12.6 |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.