Compare towns
Ware vs Hooksett vs Belchertown vs Athol
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 renters (27.7% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Belchertown has the most homeowners (87.1%).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Belchertown | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
15,057 |
15,393Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Belchertown 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. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15k 34% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hooksett 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 26% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Belchertown 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belchertown and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #168 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Hooksett School District | Belchertown | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Belchertown High | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.