Compare towns
Belchertown vs Berlin vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belchertown has the most homeowners (87.1%).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Belchertown | Berlin | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
3,378Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest 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+ | 21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,068±$15k 4% above MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Berlin and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 27% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Berlin and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810 3% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest 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 | 8.5% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #168 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belchertown | Berlin-Boylston | Ware |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | None in town | 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 |
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.