Compare towns
Ware vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($290k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Belchertown has the oldest population (median age 43.9).
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 | Windham | Dudley | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
16,038Highest |
11,929 |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
2%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% |
93.9%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. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% 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% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #142 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Windham School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Windham High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.8 |
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.