The Town FilesBelchertown, Massachusetts
Town in Hampshire County · population 15,350 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $371,300
- Household income
- $108,068
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 43.9
Belchertown is a town of 15,350 people in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $371,300, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks easier by car than 84% of Massachusetts towns, quieter than 75% of Massachusetts towns.
How Belchertown ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Belchertown is worth $371,300, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $108,068, which is more affordable than 93% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,292 a month. 87.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Belchertown | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $371,300 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,292 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $108,068 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 87.1% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Belchertown
| People | Belchertown | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.3% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 93.9% |
Weather in Belchertown
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 15.4°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belchertown since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 11, 1966 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 23, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on October 3, 1970.
Severe weather in Hampshire County since 1996
Hampshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampshire County
Hampshire County had 65,786 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,006 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Belchertown itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Belchertown
5 public schools with 2,081 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belchertown High | 9-12 | 602 | 12.3 |
| Chestnut Hill Community School | 4-6 | 489 | 13.6 |
| Swift River Elementary | 1-3 | 468 | 12.3 |
| Jabish Middle School | 7-8 | 333 | 10.4 |
| Cold Spring | PK-K | 189 | 14.5 |
Towns near Belchertown
- Belchertown, MA0.5 mi · 3,129 people · home $346,900
- Granby, MA5.6 mi · 6,110 people · home $352,600
- Ware, MA6.2 mi · 10,066 people · home $289,700
- Ludlow, MA7.2 mi · 21,002 people · home $335,300
- Palmer Town, MA7.9 mi · 12,448 people · home $271,400
- Amherst Town, MA8.0 mi · 39,263 people · home $484,900
- Ware, MA8.1 mi · 6,266 people · home $253,400
- South Hadley, MA9.3 mi · 18,150 people · home $357,900
Belchertown questions
Is Belchertown, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Belchertown scores better for retirees than 60% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 75%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in Belchertown?
The median owner-occupied home in Belchertown is valued at $371,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,068, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,292 a month.
What is the weather like in Belchertown?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 15.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 47.5 inches of snow.
Does Belchertown get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belchertown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 11, 1966. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)