Compare towns
Barre 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
Barre has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Barre | Belchertown | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
15,393Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Belchertown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Belchertown and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest 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+ | 31.6% MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Belchertown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
$371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Barre and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Belchertown and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$5,810Highest 3% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest 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 | 8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Belchertown and Ware 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Belchertown | Ware |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Belchertown High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.9 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.