Compare towns

Belchertown vs Danvers 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%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
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.

MeasureBelchertownDanversWare
People
Population
15,393
28,098Highest
10,048Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.9±1.6
10% above MA
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
43.1±4.7Lowest
8% above MA
Danvers and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.5%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
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%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.6%±3.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Danvers and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.3%
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.7%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
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
$125,395±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$67,475±$15kLowest
35% below MA
Danvers 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
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$230
27% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,810
3% below MA
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$4,237Lowest
29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.4%±21.8
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
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%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
11.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
about the MA average
28 minLowest
about the MA average
28 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
14%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Danvers 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 #168 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #267 of 282 in MA
School district Belchertown — Ware
High school 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

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.