Compare towns
Ware vs Webster vs Athol vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Webster | Athol | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
12,228 |
12,011 |
15,393Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA |
| 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%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Belchertown and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Webster 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 35% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$371,300±$12kHighest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA |
| Belchertown and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
$5,810Highest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
16% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | — | Athol-Royalston | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | Athol High | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.6 |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.