Compare towns
Adams vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Pelham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074Highest |
1,335Lowest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Adams and Pelham 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%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Pelham 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% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham 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% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Adams and Ware 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 |
$113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,205±$560Highest 32% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
| Pelham 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 |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest 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% |
10.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 19% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
27 minHighest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #230 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Pelham | — |
| 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.