What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).

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	Douglas
People
Population	15,393Highest	9,207Lowest
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	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA
	Douglas and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Douglas 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	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA
	Douglas 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	$6,338Highest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Douglas 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%	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 20 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Douglas
High school in town	Belchertown High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	7.2Lowest
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.