Compare towns
Ware vs Plainfield vs Belchertown vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Belchertown has the highest household income ($108k).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Belchertown | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
15,141 |
15,393Highest |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.9±1.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
| 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Plainfield 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. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Ware 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 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% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #168 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Plainfield School District | Belchertown | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Plainfield High School | Belchertown High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
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.