Compare towns
Ware vs Plainfield vs Killingly 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Belchertown has the most expensive homes ($371k median).
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 | Killingly | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
15,141 |
17,867Highest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.9±1.6Highest 13% 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4Highest 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% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest 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±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 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. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belchertown and Ware 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
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.