Compare towns
Belchertown vs Reading vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Pelham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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.
| Measure | Belchertown | Reading | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393 |
25,612Highest |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
45±8.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Pelham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 27% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810Lowest 3% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,472 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Belchertown and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Belchertown | Reading | Pelham |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.