Compare towns
Adams vs Gardner 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).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Gardner | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074 |
21,148Highest |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Adams and Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kHighest 35% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Gardner 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 |
$301,600±$20kHighest 46% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
| Gardner 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 |
$4,150Highest 31% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 19% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Gardner | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.