Compare towns
Adams vs Barre vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% 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 | Adams | Barre | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074 |
5,572Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Adams and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,043±$109Highest 41% below MA |
| Ware and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 19% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Barre 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 | #230 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Quabbin | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.