East Longmeadow vs Wilbraham
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $50k more for a 4BR in Wilbraham, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $50k for one tier of schooling.
Wilbraham is about 6 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: East Longmeadow works out roughly $1,000 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose East Longmeadow if you want the lower price.
All East Longmeadow numbers →Choose Wilbraham if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Wilbraham numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsWilbraham ahead on 2 of 8
| East Longmeadow | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | strong schoolsT2 |
| MCAS achievement | 57th | 62nd |
| Student growth | 54th | 56th |
| Graduation rate | 97.2% | 95.9% |
| State accountability | Substantial progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $20,454 | $19,398 |
| Schools in the district | 4 | 5 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 2 | 2 |
What a home costsEast Longmeadow ahead on 4 of 6
| East Longmeadow | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $500kT1 | $550kT1 |
| 3BR townhouse | $385k | $425k |
| 2BR condo | $285k | $315k |
| 3BR rent | $2,303/mo | $2,260/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $144k | $158k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.6% a year | 5.8% a year |
What you pay the townEast Longmeadow ahead on 1 of 4
| East Longmeadow | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $15.50T4 | $16.00T4 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$7,800 | ≈$8,800 |
| Town spending per resident | $4,281 | $3,503 |
| Share of budget on schools | 51% | 59% |
Getting to workWilbraham ahead on 1 of 3
| East Longmeadow | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 118 minT4 | 112 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 80 mi | 74 mi |
Before kindergartenEast Longmeadow ahead on 3 of 4
| East Longmeadow | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 18 | 13 |
| Child care places | 718 | 529 |
| Centers vs family programs | 11 centers | 7 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 97 | 47 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| East Longmeadow | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,430 | 14,613 |
| Energy | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Compact center | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Family amenities | 2/10 | 5/10 |
| Culture | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Gathering places | 7/10 | 6/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
