Compare towns
Belchertown vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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.
| Measure | Belchertown | Needham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393 |
32,459Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Belchertown and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 27% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810 3% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #168 of 282 in MA | #19 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.