Compare towns
Ware vs Hampton vs Hardwick 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 (21.7%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Hardwick | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
16,426Highest |
2,684Lowest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hardwick 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Hardwick 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 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 |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #163 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Quabbin | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.1Lowest |
— | 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.