Compare towns
Adams vs Orange vs Ware vs Williamstown
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).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Williamstown has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Orange | Ware | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,074 |
7,573Lowest |
10,048Highest |
9,150 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA |
| Adams and Ware 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
24.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Williamstown 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6k 43% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$106,650±$25kHighest about the MA average |
| Williamstown and Ware 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 |
$245,900±$18k 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$437,100±$39kHighest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74 45% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,584±$292Highest 10% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,290Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±15.4 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
11.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 19% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #230 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #45 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Mt Greylock Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.1 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.