What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).

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	Milton
People
Population	15,393Highest	4,538Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S.	45.7±2.4Highest 17% above U.S.
	Milton and Belchertown 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%	18.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Belchertown and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Belchertown and Milton 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%	21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S.	$94,493±$27kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Belchertown and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S.	$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S.
	Milton and Belchertown 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.	$5,663Lowest 82% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Milton and Belchertown 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%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Milton 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	#116 of 120 in NH
School district	Belchertown	Milton School District
High school in town	Belchertown High	Nute High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.