Compare towns
Buckland vs Ware vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buckland has the highest household income ($83k).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Buckland | Ware | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,036 |
10,048Highest |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±5.4 24% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,877±$6kHighest 20% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Buckland and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,400±$25kHighest 43% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Buckland and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$213Highest 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Buckland and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,761Highest 21% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13% MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Charlemont and Buckland 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 | Mohawk Trail | Ware | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | Mohawk Trail Regional School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.