What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Winchendon has the most affordable homes ($324k 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	Winchendon
People
Population	15,393Highest	10,440Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA	39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Winchendon 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%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Belchertown and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Winchendon 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	$75,690±$14kLowest 27% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kHighest 34% below MA	$323,800±$19kLowest 42% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA	$1,255±$163Lowest 29% below MA
	Belchertown and Winchendon 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	$3,780Lowest 37% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Winchendon 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%	18.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	76.6%Lowest 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	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Belchertown and Winchendon 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	#269 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Winchendon
High school in town	Belchertown High	Murdock High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.3Lowest
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.