Compare towns

Adams vs Dunstable 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).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).

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.

MeasureAdamsDunstableWare
People
Population
8,074Highest
3,408Lowest
6,369
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.3±3.3Highest
18% above MA
41.5±2.4
4% above MA
39.8±6Lowest
about the MA average
Kids under 18
15.7%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.4%±4.3
MA: 19.4%
23.3%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Dunstable 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%
15%±2.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.4%±3.9
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.5%
MA: 47.3%
62.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
15.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
7.1%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dunstable 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
$208,512±$23kHighest
101% above MA
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,900±$15kLowest
63% below MA
$674,000±$30kHighest
20% above MA
$253,400±$31k
55% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$74Lowest
45% below MA
$1,325±$637Highest
25% below MA
$1,039±$104
41% below MA
Dunstable and Ware 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
$9,020Highest
51% above MA
$3,408Lowest
43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±10.3
MA: 51.8%
60%±77.1Lowest
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%
0.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.1%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.1%
MA: 62.5%
96.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1987Highest
23 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
19% below MA
34 minHighest
18% above MA
27 min
9% below MA
Work from home
8.3%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.6%±5
MA: 18.6%
Dunstable 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 #230 of 282 in MA #4 of 282 in MA #267 of 282 in MA
School district Hoosac Valley Regional Groton-Dunstable —
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.