Compare towns
Ware vs Webster vs Woonsocket 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).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Woonsocket | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
17,748 |
43,521Highest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.9±1.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 16% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Belchertown and Webster 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. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
| 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 36% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than 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 11% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Webster | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bartlett High School | Woonsocket High School | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.6 |
15.2Highest |
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.