What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has the most people working from home (14%).

Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).

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	Putnam
People
Population	15,393Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.9±1.6Highest 13% above U.S.	43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Belchertown and Putnam 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%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Belchertown and Putnam 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%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Belchertown and Putnam 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%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Belchertown and Putnam 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 34% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Belchertown and Putnam 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.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Belchertown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Belchertown and Putnam 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	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Belchertown	Putnam School District
High school in town	Belchertown High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	9.5Lowest
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.