What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has the most homeowners (87.1%).

Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k 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	Northbridge
People
Population	15,393Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA	43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA
	Belchertown and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Belchertown 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%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA
	Northbridge and Belchertown 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	$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
	Belchertown and Northbridge 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	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Northbridge 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%	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 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%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Northbridge
High school in town	Belchertown High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.8Lowest
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.