Compare towns
Adams vs Putnam vs North Adams
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 oldest population (median age 47.3).
Putnam has the most expensive homes ($269k median).
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Putnam | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074Lowest |
9,292 |
12,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5 13% above U.S. |
| Adams and North 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Adams and North 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6k 27% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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±$15k 37% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74 32% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638 17% above U.S. |
$3,860Highest 24% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Adams and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Adams and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Putnam School District | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.