Compare towns
Belchertown vs Hingham vs New Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belchertown has the youngest population (median age 43.9).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
New Salem has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Hingham | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393 |
24,283Highest |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±6.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,068±$15k 4% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$79,688±$19kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$359,000±$40kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 27% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,194±$88Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810 3% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,509Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| New Salem and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #168 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Belchertown | Hingham | — |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | Hingham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.