What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

Belchertown has the most kids (19.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wareham	Belchertown
People
Population	23,302Highest	15,393Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%	21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Wareham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA	$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA
	Belchertown and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA	$371,300±$12kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA	$1,292±$230Lowest 27% below MA
	Wareham and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,341Lowest 28% below MA	$5,810Highest 3% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Lowest MA: 10%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Belchertown and Wareham 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	#272 of 282 in MA	#168 of 282 in MA
School district	Wareham	Belchertown
High school in town	Wareham Senior High	Belchertown High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.