What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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	Reading
People
Population	15,393Lowest	25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Belchertown and Reading 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%	22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Reading 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%	20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Belchertown and Reading 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%	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA	$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA	$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA	$9,320Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Reading 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%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#168 of 282 in MA	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Reading
High school in town	Belchertown High	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.1Highest
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.