What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has the most affordable homes ($371k median).

Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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	Stoneham
People
Population	15,393Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA
	Belchertown and Stoneham 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%	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham 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%	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Belchertown and Stoneham 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%	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA	$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA
	Stoneham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA	$6,523Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Stoneham 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%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#168 of 282 in MA	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Stoneham
High school in town	Belchertown High	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.7Lowest
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.