Compare towns
Pembroke vs Rye 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
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.
| Measure | Pembroke | Rye | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,382Highest |
5,611Lowest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belchertown and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $586,500±$28k 76% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,292±$230Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Pembroke and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,585 111% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,810Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belchertown and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Pembroke 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 | #82 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pembroke | Rye School District | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Pembroke High School | None in town | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.