Compare towns
Ware vs Hampton vs Dudley 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 most affordable homes ($290k median).
Hampton has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
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 | Hampton | Dudley | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
10,101 |
11,929 |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Belchertown and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #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 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.