Compare towns
Adams vs Rowe vs Ware vs Spencer
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).
Rowe has the most homeowners (90.8%).
Ware has the youngest population (median age 39.8).
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 | Rowe | Ware | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,074 |
453Lowest |
6,369 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3 18% above MA |
48.9±6.4Highest 22% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Rowe 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% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe and Spencer 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% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer 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 |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
| Spencer and Rowe 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 |
$275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
| Rowe and Spencer 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 |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 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% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 19% below MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Spencer 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Rowe | — | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.