What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has the most kids (19.5% under 18).

Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belchertown	Berlin
People
Population	15,393Highest	3,378Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA	49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA
Kids under 18	19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Belchertown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA	$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA
	Berlin 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	$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA	$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA
	Berlin and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA	$7,116Highest 19% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	52.6%±19.7Lowest 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	8.5%Highest MA: 10%	5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 20 yrs newer than MA	1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 17% above MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#168 of 282 in MA	#61 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Berlin-Boylston
High school in town	Belchertown High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.