What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has the most people working from home (14%).

Dudley has the most renters (26.9% rent).

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	Dudley
People
Population	15,393Highest	11,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average
	Belchertown and Dudley 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%	20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dudley 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%	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Belchertown and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA
	Belchertown and Dudley 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	$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA
	Dudley and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA
	Belchertown and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Highest 3% below MA	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Dudley 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%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Belchertown and Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Belchertown High	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	14.3Highest
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.