Compare towns
Belchertown vs Ware vs Windsor vs Pepperell
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%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
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 | Windsor | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
10,048 |
3,554Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Windsor 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Pepperell 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. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,209 67% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belchertown | Ware | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | 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 | 12 photos → | 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.