What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

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	Wilbraham
People
Population	15,393Highest	14,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA	44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA
	Wilbraham 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%	23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wilbraham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Wilbraham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	51.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Wilbraham 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	$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA
	Wilbraham 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	$416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA	$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA
	Belchertown and Wilbraham 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	$6,658Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	53.1%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Wilbraham 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%	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Belchertown and Wilbraham 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	#88 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Belchertown High	Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	14.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.