Compare towns
Smithfield vs Belchertown vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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 | Smithfield | Belchertown | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233Highest |
15,393Lowest |
22,220 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Belchertown and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Smithfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$97,764±$8kLowest 21% 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±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Belchertown 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. |
$5,393 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 38 in RI | #168 of 282 in MA | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Belchertown | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Belchertown High | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
11.9 |
12.5Highest |
| 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.