Compare towns
Ware vs Washington 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).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Washington | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
1,056Lowest |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belchertown and Ware 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% |
24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest 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±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Ware 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. |
$3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Belchertown 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 |
| School district | Ware | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.