What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).

Belchertown has the most affordable homes ($371k 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	Douglas	Belchertown
People
Population	9,207Lowest	15,393Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA
	Douglas and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	21%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA	$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA
	Douglas and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Highest 6% above MA	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1984Lowest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas and Belchertown 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	#177 of 282 in MA	#168 of 282 in MA
School district	Douglas	Belchertown
High school in town	Douglas High School	Belchertown High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	11.9Highest
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.