What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most renters (50.4% 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	Springfield
People
Population	15,393Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Springfield and Belchertown 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	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kHighest 34% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
	Belchertown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Highest 3% below MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield and Belchertown 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%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#168 of 282 in MA	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Springfield
High school in town	Belchertown High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.2Highest
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.