Compare towns
Pelham vs Sterling 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%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Belchertown has the most homeowners (87.1%).
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 | Sterling | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
3,629 |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Belchertown 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Sterling 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. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15k 34% above U.S. |
| 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 35% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Pelham 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. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belchertown and Pelham 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% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham | Sterling 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.