What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).

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	Ossipee
People
Population	15,393Highest	4,521Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S.	50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S.
	Ossipee and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22%	19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ossipee 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%	24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S.	$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S.
	Belchertown and Ossipee 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.	$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S.
	Ossipee 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.	$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ossipee 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%	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	33 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#168 of 282 in MA	#100 of 120 in NH
School district	Belchertown	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Belchertown High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	—
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.