What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has the highest household income ($108k).

Gardner has the most renters (41.1% 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	Gardner
People
Population	15,393Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Belchertown and Gardner 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%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Belchertown and Gardner 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%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Belchertown and Gardner 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%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Gardner 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 4% above MA	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kHighest 34% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
	Belchertown and Gardner 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	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Belchertown and Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Gardner
High school in town	Belchertown High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	13.5Highest
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.