Compare towns
Ware vs Smithfield vs Hardwick 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 affordable homes ($290k median).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Hardwick | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
22,233Highest |
2,684Lowest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Belchertown 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Smithfield 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 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. |
$75,000±$22k 7% 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±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above 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. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Hardwick 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. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% 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% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 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. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Smithfield | Quabbin | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Smithfield High School | None in town | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.8 |
— | 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.