What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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	Townsend	Belchertown
People
Population	9,100Lowest	15,393Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA
	Belchertown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	21%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Belchertown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA	$108,068±$15kLowest 4% above MA
	Townsend and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA
	Townsend and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$5,810Lowest 3% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest MA: 10%	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Belchertown and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#168 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Belchertown
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Belchertown High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.