Compare towns
Ware vs Smithfield vs Athol 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 most renters (27.7% rent).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
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 | Smithfield | Athol | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
22,233Highest |
12,011 |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Belchertown 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Belchertown and Smithfield 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. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Athol 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. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI | #256 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Smithfield | Athol-Royalston | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Smithfield High School | Athol High | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.8 |
11.6 |
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.