Compare towns
Pelham vs Leverett vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Leverett has the oldest population (median age 56).
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.
| Measure | Pelham | Leverett | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
1,608 |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA |
| Leverett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Leverett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
$104,688±$18kLowest about the MA average |
$108,068±$15k 4% above MA |
| Pelham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
$435,500±$35k 23% below MA |
$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA |
| Pelham and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,389±$135Highest 21% below MA |
$1,292±$230 27% below MA |
| Leverett and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$6,779 13% above MA |
$5,810Lowest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Leverett and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
10% MA: 10% |
8.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±5 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Leverett 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 | — | — | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham | Leverett | Belchertown |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.