Compare towns
Ware vs Unity vs Dudley 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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Belchertown has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Dudley | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
1,375Lowest |
11,929 |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above 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±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12k 12% 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230 9% 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. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Highest 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Unity School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.