Compare towns
Ware vs Ashfield vs Hardwick vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Ashfield | Hardwick | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
1,893Lowest |
2,684 |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
47.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Hardwick 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 35% below MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA |
| Belchertown and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
| Ashfield and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA |
| Belchertown and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$5,810Highest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
8.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #163 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Mohawk Trail | Quabbin | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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.