What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).

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	Smithfield	Belchertown
People
Population	22,233Highest	15,393Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.	43.9±1.6Highest 13% above U.S.
	Belchertown and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Belchertown and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.	$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S.
	Belchertown and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.	$371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S.
	Belchertown and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.	$5,810Highest 86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Belchertown and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#8 of 38 in RI	#168 of 282 in MA
School district	Smithfield	Belchertown
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Belchertown High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.