Compare towns
Adams vs Plainfield vs Ware vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).
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 | Plainfield | Ware | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,074Lowest |
15,141Highest |
10,048 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3 22% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Spencer 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 27% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Spencer and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Plainfield School District | Ware | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
11.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.