What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Longmeadow has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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

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	East Longmeadow	Belchertown
People
Population	16,425Highest	15,393Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±4.2Lowest 9% above MA	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA
	Belchertown and East Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	East Longmeadow and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%	21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	East Longmeadow and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and East Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,676±$11kLowest about the MA average	$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA
	Belchertown and East Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,800±$17kHighest 33% below MA	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA
	East Longmeadow and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,337±$236Highest 24% below MA	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA
	East Longmeadow and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,662Highest 11% above MA	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and East Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 22% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	15.5%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	East Longmeadow 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	#148 of 282 in MA	#168 of 282 in MA
School district	East Longmeadow	Belchertown
High school in town	East Longmeadow High	Belchertown High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	11.9Highest
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.