Compare towns
Belchertown vs Maynard vs Ware vs Ludlow
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%).
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Maynard | Ware | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,393 |
10,712 |
10,048Lowest |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
| Maynard and Ludlow 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Ludlow 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 |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 27% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810 3% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% 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 |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belchertown | — | Ware | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.