Compare towns
Auburn vs Berlin vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Belchertown has the most homeowners (87.1%).
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 | Auburn | Berlin | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,970Highest |
3,378Lowest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6 12% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Auburn and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,711±$10k 12% above MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA |
| Berlin and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155 17% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA |
| Berlin and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,810 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Belchertown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #106 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Berlin-Boylston | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | None in town | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.