Compare towns
Ware vs Williamsburg vs Belchertown vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Williamsburg | Belchertown | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
2,694 |
15,393Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.3% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown and Williamsburg 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 35% below MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Belchertown and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$403,100±$37kHighest 28% below MA |
$371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Williamsburg 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 41% below MA |
$1,420±$228Highest 19% below MA |
$1,292±$230 27% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Williamsburg and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
$5,810Highest 3% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #168 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Williamsburg | Belchertown | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Belchertown High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 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.