What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middleborough has the most expensive homes ($469k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belchertown	Middleborough
People
Population	15,393Lowest	24,505Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA	43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA
	Belchertown and Middleborough 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%	18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Belchertown and Middleborough 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%	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Middleborough 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 MA: 47.3%	32%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA	$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA
	Belchertown and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA	$468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA	$1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA	$6,023Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	57.2%±11.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest MA: 10%	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Belchertown and Middleborough 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	#170 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Middleborough
High school in town	Belchertown High	Middleborough High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.3Lowest
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.