What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has the most homeowners (87.1%).

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	15,393Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA
Kids under 18	19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Worcester 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%	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA	$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA
	Worcester and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA
	Worcester and Belchertown 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	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Worcester 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%	19.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	24 minLowest 17% below MA
Work from home	14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Belchertown and Worcester 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	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Belchertown High	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	14.6Highest
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.