What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleborough has the most expensive homes ($469k median).

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	Middleborough	Belchertown
People
Population	24,505Highest	15,393Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA
	Belchertown and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Belchertown and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Middleborough and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA	$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA
	Belchertown and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,023Highest about the MA average	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.2%±11.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Belchertown and Middleborough 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	#170 of 282 in MA	#168 of 282 in MA
School district	Middleborough	Belchertown
High school in town	Middleborough High	Belchertown High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	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.