What stands out worked out from the figures below

Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Petersham	Belchertown
People
Population	1,185Lowest	15,393Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA
Kids under 18	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%	21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA	$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA
	Petersham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA
	Petersham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA
	Petersham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,636Lowest 23% below MA	$5,810Highest 3% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Highest MA: 10%	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	87.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Petersham 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	—	#168 of 282 in MA
School district	Petersham	Belchertown
High school in town	None in town	Belchertown High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.