Compare towns
Belchertown vs Ogunquit vs Ware vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Ogunquit | Ware | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
1,379Lowest |
10,048 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Pepperell 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Belchertown 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #168 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belchertown | — | Ware | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | — | 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.