Compare towns
Ware vs Dedham vs Needham 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).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Belchertown has the most homeowners (87.1%).
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 | Dedham | Needham | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
| Dedham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$108,068±$15k 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,292±$230 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,810 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | — | Needham | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | Needham High | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
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.