What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).

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	Dunstable	Belchertown
People
Population	3,408Lowest	15,393Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA
	Belchertown and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4%	19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dunstable and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	21%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dunstable and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA	$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA
	Dunstable and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,020Highest 51% above MA	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8%	57.4%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dunstable and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0.5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	87.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA	1984Lowest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dunstable 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	#4 of 282 in MA	#168 of 282 in MA
School district	Groton-Dunstable	Belchertown
High school in town	None in town	Belchertown High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.9
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.