What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).

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	Harvard	Belchertown
People
Population	6,927Lowest	15,393Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA
	Harvard and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%	19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Harvard and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	21%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Belchertown and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA	$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,321±$424Highest 25% below MA	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA
	Harvard and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%	57.4%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	87.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 282 in MA	#168 of 282 in MA
School district	Harvard	Belchertown
High school in town	The Bromfield High School	Belchertown High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	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.