Compare towns
Belchertown vs Ware vs Worcester
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%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393Highest |
10,048 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Belchertown and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belchertown and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Belchertown 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 34% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% 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% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #168 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Belchertown | Ware | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.