Compare towns
Ware vs Ashburnham vs Belchertown vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
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 | Ashburnham | Belchertown | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
6,415 |
15,393Highest |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Belchertown and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$108,068±$15k 4% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
$371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,292±$230 27% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$5,810 3% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.1% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Ashburnham-Westminster | Belchertown | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Belchertown High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.