What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has the shortest commute (29 min average).

Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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	Sturbridge
People
Population	15,393Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge 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%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge 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%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Belchertown and Sturbridge 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%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Sturbridge 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	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge 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	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Belchertown and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Sturbridge 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1982Lowest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Belchertown 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	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Belchertown High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	7.7Lowest
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.