Compare towns
Belchertown vs Lancaster 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
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
3,216Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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 | 8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #168 of 282 in MA | #107 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belchertown | White Mountains Regional School District | 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 |
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.