Compare towns
Ware vs Plainfield vs Belchertown vs Hardwick
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).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% 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 | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
1,314Lowest |
15,393Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 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. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Hardwick 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. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Belchertown and Hardwick 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. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% 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 | $4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Ware 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% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #168 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | — | Belchertown | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | Belchertown High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 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.