Compare towns
Belvidere vs Ware vs Waterville vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the highest household income ($82k).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Montgomery has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Belvidere | Ware | Waterville | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
10,048Highest |
680 |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51k 28% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Montgomery and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$4,326Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montgomery and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Ware | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.