Compare towns
Belchertown vs Danvers vs Danvers 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 the most affordable homes ($371k median).
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 | Danvers | Danvers | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,393 |
28,098Highest |
28,098Highest |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest 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%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Danvers 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 |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 27% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810Lowest 3% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Belchertown and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #168 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Belchertown | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Pelham |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.