Compare towns
Pelham vs Pomfret vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Pelham | Pomfret | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
4,317 |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 16% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pelham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472Highest 140% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$5,810Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 149 in CT | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham | Pomfret School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.