Compare towns
Barnstead vs Belchertown vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Belchertown has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Barnstead | Belchertown | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
15,393Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Belchertown and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belchertown and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15k 34% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belchertown and Barnstead 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #168 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Belchertown | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Belchertown High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.