Compare towns
Belchertown vs Windham vs Ware
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 oldest population (median age 43.9).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Windham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,393 |
16,038Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Belchertown and Ware 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Ware 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810 86% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #168 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belchertown | Windham School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | Windham High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.8Highest |
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.