Compare towns
Belchertown vs Killingly vs New Salem
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 highest household income ($108k).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
New Salem has the most people working from home (19.4%).
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 | Killingly | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393 |
17,867Highest |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.6±2.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Belchertown 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% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Salem 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% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Killingly 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. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$79,688±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$359,000±$40k 8% above U.S. |
| Belchertown and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,194±$88 15% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,509 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
86.7%±25.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Salem and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Salem 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Belchertown | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | Killingly High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.