Compare towns
Ware vs Acton vs Belchertown vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Belchertown has the highest household income ($108k).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Ware | Acton | Belchertown | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
2,721Lowest |
15,393Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest 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 | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,403 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #43 of 133 in ME | #168 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Acton Public Schools | Belchertown | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Belchertown High | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.