Compare towns
Belchertown vs Barre vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Belchertown | Barre | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
5,572 |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
45±8.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Pelham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,068±$15k 4% above MA |
$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
| Pelham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
| Pelham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
| Belchertown and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810 3% below MA |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Belchertown and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #168 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Belchertown | Quabbin | Pelham |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.