Compare towns
Ware vs Lee vs Athol vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Lee | Athol | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
5,719Lowest |
12,011 |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Lee 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 35% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA |
| Belchertown and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$371,300±$12kHighest 34% below MA |
| Belchertown and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,292±$230 27% below MA |
| Lee and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,810Highest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Lee | Athol-Royalston | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Lee Middle/High School | Athol High | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.2Lowest |
11.6 |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.