Compare towns
Ware vs Everett vs Ware vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Everett | Ware | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
50,045Highest |
6,369Lowest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39.8±6 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,292±$230 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,810Highest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
8.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Belchertown 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Everett | — | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Everett High | — | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | 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.