Compare towns
Belchertown vs Ware vs Ludlow
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%).
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 | Ware | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393 |
10,048Lowest |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Ludlow and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Belchertown and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$15kHighest 4% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12kHighest 34% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Belchertown and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810Highest 3% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | Ware | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.