What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has the most kids (19.5% under 18).

Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k 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	Tyringham
People
Population	15,393Highest	494Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA	59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA
Kids under 18	19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Tyringham 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	$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA	$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA	$1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA
	Belchertown and Tyringham 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	$4,632Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	60%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Tyringham and Belchertown 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%	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	36 minHighest 23% above MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#168 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Belchertown	—
High school in town	Belchertown High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	—
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.