Compare towns
Belchertown vs Sutton vs Ware vs Ludlow
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 the most expensive homes ($371k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Sutton | Ware | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,393 |
2,239Lowest |
10,048 |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Ludlow 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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Ludlow 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. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Belchertown and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,918 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 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. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Belchertown 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belchertown | Kearsarge Regional School District | Ware | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | Kearsarge Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
11.1 |
| 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.