What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k 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	Smithfield
People
Population	15,393Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Highest 13% above U.S.	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Belchertown and Smithfield 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%	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Belchertown and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield 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%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S.	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Belchertown and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S.	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Belchertown and Smithfield 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.	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Belchertown and Smithfield 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%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#168 of 282 in MA	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Belchertown	Smithfield
High school in town	Belchertown High	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.8Lowest
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.