What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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	Plainfield
People
Population	15,393Highest	616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA	50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA
	Plainfield 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 MA: 19.4%	19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Belchertown and Plainfield 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%	29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Plainfield 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Plainfield 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 4% above MA	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kHighest 34% below MA	$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230 27% below MA	$1,292±$558 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Highest 3% below MA	$4,458Lowest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#168 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Belchertown	—
High school in town	Belchertown High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	—
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.