Compare towns
Belchertown vs Stoneham vs Ware vs Pelham
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%).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Stoneham | Ware | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,393 |
23,355Highest |
10,048 |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
45±8.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Pelham and Belchertown 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% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham 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% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Stoneham 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 |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
| Stoneham and Pelham 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 |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 27% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810 3% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 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% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Belchertown | Stoneham | Ware | Pelham |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | Stoneham High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
— |
| 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.