What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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	Epping
People
Population	15,393Highest	7,430Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S.	45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S.
	Epping 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 U.S.: 22%	18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Belchertown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Belchertown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S.	$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S.
	Belchertown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S.	$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.
	Epping and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Lowest 86% above U.S.	$6,936Highest 122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Epping 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	#77 of 120 in NH
School district	Belchertown	Epping School District
High school in town	Belchertown High	Epping High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	9.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.