Compare towns
Ware vs Griswold vs Putnam vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Griswold | Putnam | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
11,530 |
9,292Lowest |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
| Griswold 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belchertown and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Ware 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 16% below U.S. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Griswold School District | Putnam School District | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Griswold High School | Putnam High School | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.5 |
9.5Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.