Springfield 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 $175k more for a 4BR in Wilbraham, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $175k for two tiers of schooling.
On tax, look past the rate: Springfield works out roughly $3,000 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Springfield if you want the lower price.
All Springfield 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 4 of 8
| Springfield | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | mixed schoolsT4 | strong schoolsT2 |
| MCAS achievement | 6th | 62nd |
| Student growth | 46th | 56th |
| Graduation rate | 82% | 95.9% |
| State accountability | Moderate progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $25,418 | $19,398 |
| Schools in the district | 50 | 5 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 2 | 2 |
What a home costsSpringfield ahead on 5 of 6
| Springfield | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $375kT1 | $550kT1 |
| 3BR townhouse | $290k | $425k |
| 2BR condo | $215k | $315k |
| 3BR rent | $2,280/mo | $2,260/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $109k | $158k |
| 10-year price growth | 8.1% a year | 5.8% a year |
What you pay the townSpringfield ahead on 1 of 4
| Springfield | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $15.46T4 | $16.00T4 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$5,800 | ≈$8,800 |
| Town spending per resident | $5,900 | $3,503 |
| Share of budget on schools | 59% | 59% |
Getting to workLevel across all 3
| Springfield | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 116 minT4 | 112 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 78 mi | 74 mi |
Before kindergartenSpringfield ahead on 3 of 4
| Springfield | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 489 | 13 |
| Child care places | 8,262 | 529 |
| Centers vs family programs | 71 centers | 7 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 680 | 47 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Springfield | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 155,929 | 14,613 |
| Energy | 7/10 | 4/10 |
| Compact center | 8/10 | 4/10 |
| Family amenities | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Culture | 7/10 | 4/10 |
| Gathering places | 8/10 | 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.
