Compare towns
Ware vs Unity vs Belchertown vs Athol
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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Unity | Belchertown | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
1,375Lowest |
15,393Highest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Ware 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Unity and Belchertown 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. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 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 | — | #168 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Unity School District | Belchertown | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Belchertown High | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.