Compare towns
Dudley vs Belchertown vs Ware vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Belchertown has the highest household income ($108k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Dudley | Belchertown | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
15,393Highest |
6,369Lowest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| Belchertown and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
18.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$63,837±$8k 39% below MA |
| Belchertown and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
| Dudley and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
| Belchertown and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$5,810Highest 3% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Belchertown | — | — |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Belchertown High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.9Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.