Compare towns
Ware 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).
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 | Dudley | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
11,929 |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA |
| 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% |
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% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4Highest 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%Lowest 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% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% 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 |
$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±$109Lowest 41% 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,810Highest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% 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 |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.