What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k 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	Millis	Belchertown
People
Population	8,888Lowest	15,393Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3Highest 16% above MA	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA
	Millis and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Belchertown and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%	21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Millis and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA	$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA
	Millis and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,344Highest 56% above MA	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±16.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Millis 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	83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	17.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Millis 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	#63 of 282 in MA	#168 of 282 in MA
School district	Millis	Belchertown
High school in town	Millis High School	Belchertown High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	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.