Compare towns
Ware vs Putnam vs Belchertown vs Dudley
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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Belchertown has the highest household income ($108k).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
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 | Putnam | Belchertown | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
9,292Lowest |
15,393Highest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Belchertown and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Belchertown and Dudley 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Dudley 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. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Dudley 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #168 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Putnam School District | Belchertown | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Putnam High School | Belchertown High | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.5Lowest |
11.9 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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