Compare towns
Ware vs Worcester vs Belchertown vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Belchertown has the highest household income ($108k).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Belchertown | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
207,055Highest |
15,393 |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 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% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
$371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
| Worcester 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 |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,292±$230 27% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Worcester and Belchertown 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 |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,810Highest 3% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Belchertown | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | South High Community | Belchertown High | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
11.9 |
11.6 |
| 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.