What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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	Windham
People
Population	15,393Lowest	16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Highest 13% above U.S.	41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Belchertown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Belchertown and Windham 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 34% above U.S.	$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S.	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Lowest 9% below U.S.	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Lowest 86% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Belchertown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#168 of 282 in MA	#13 of 120 in NH
School district	Belchertown	Windham School District
High school in town	Belchertown High	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.