What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has the most affordable homes ($371k median).

Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k 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.

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

Measure	Belchertown	Danvers
People
Population	15,393Lowest	28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA	45.3±3Highest 13% above MA
	Danvers and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Belchertown and Danvers 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%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Danvers 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.3Lowest 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
	Danvers 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	$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA	$6,654Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	48.8%±8.6Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Danvers 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	#168 of 282 in MA	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town	Belchertown High	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.