Compare towns
Belchertown vs Epping vs Epsom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belchertown has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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.
| Measure | Belchertown | Epping | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
7,430 |
4,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Epsom and Epping 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%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9Lowest 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3Lowest 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% |
40.6% 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% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Epsom 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±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13kLowest 21% 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±$12k 12% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,212±$437Lowest 14% below 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. |
$6,210 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Epping 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Belchertown | Epping School District | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.