Compare towns
Belchertown vs Townsend 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend | Ware | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
9,100 |
10,048 |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5% 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% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
| Pelham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
| Townsend and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810 3% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #168 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Belchertown | North Middlesex | Ware | Pelham |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | North Middlesex Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
13.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.