Compare towns
Ayer vs Belchertown vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Belchertown has the most homeowners (87.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Ayer | Belchertown | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
15,393Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Belchertown and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Belchertown and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Belchertown and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,292±$230 27% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Ayer and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$5,810Highest 3% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
8.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Belchertown | Ware |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Belchertown High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.