Compare towns
Adams vs Everett vs Ware vs North Brookfield
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).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).
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 | Everett | Ware | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,074 |
50,045Highest |
10,048 |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
| Adams and North Brookfield 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Ware 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 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% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Everett and North Brookfield 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$981±$63 44% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,176 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8Lowest 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 19% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North Brookfield 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Everett | Ware | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.1 |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.