Compare towns
Belchertown vs Ossipee 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
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Ossipee | Ware | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
4,521 |
10,048 |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% 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. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45±8.4 16% above U.S. |
| Ossipee 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% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pelham and Ossipee 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% |
24.8% 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% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6Lowest 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±$15k 34% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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 12% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$447,600±$33kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,205±$560 15% below U.S. |
| Ossipee 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. |
$4,401 41% 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% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Ware 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% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% 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. |
1979 1 yr 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. |
33 minHighest 27% 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% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Belchertown | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | 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.