Compare towns
Adams vs Brookfield 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).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% 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 | Brookfield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074Highest |
3,460Lowest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3 18% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Brookfield and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Adams 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% |
28.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield 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±$6k 43% below MA |
$81,250±$37kHighest 22% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Brookfield and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$341,900±$23kHighest 39% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,014±$161 42% below MA |
$1,039±$104Highest 41% below MA |
| Ware and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638 39% below MA |
$5,092Highest 15% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest 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% MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 19% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Brookfield 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Brookfield | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.