Compare towns
Belchertown vs Dudley 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 highest household income ($108k).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Dudley | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
11,929 |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Belchertown and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 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+ | 47.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Belchertown and Dudley 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 |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Dudley and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| Belchertown and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810Highest 3% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest 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% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 min 6% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belchertown | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.