Compare towns
Belchertown vs Morris vs Ware vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Morris has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Morris | Ware | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
2,164 |
10,048 |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45±8.4 16% above U.S. |
| Morris and Pelham 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% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham 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% |
29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Morris 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 34% above U.S. |
$109,191±$25k 35% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
$396,000±$60k 19% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$447,600±$33kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,204±$134 15% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,205±$560 15% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810 86% above U.S. |
$5,273 69% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$7,472Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #168 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Belchertown | Regional School District 20 | Ware | Pelham |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.