What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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	Dedham
People
Population	15,393Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Dedham 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%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Belchertown and Dedham 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%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dedham 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%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Dedham 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	$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA
	Dedham 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	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Dedham 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%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dedham 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	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Dedham
High school in town	Belchertown High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.4Lowest
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.