Compare towns
Acton vs Belchertown vs Newfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Belchertown has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Newfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Acton | Belchertown | Newfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
15,393Highest |
1,580Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
52.8±8.1 36% above U.S. |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Belchertown and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$57,188±$20kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$318,100±$27kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
$2,402Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 53% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
49 minHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Belchertown 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #168 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Belchertown | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Belchertown High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.