Compare towns
Ware vs Brookfield vs Dudley 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).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Belchertown has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Brookfield | Dudley | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
3,460Lowest |
11,929 |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley 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 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above 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 | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$371,300±$12k 34% 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 | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,292±$230Highest 27% 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 | $4,237 29% below MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,810Highest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8 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 | 11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
87.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Belchertown and Ware 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Brookfield | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.