Compare towns

Adams vs Temple vs Ware

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).
Temple has the highest household income ($94k).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).

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.

MeasureAdamsTempleWare
People
Population
8,074Highest
1,363Lowest
6,369
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.3±3.3
22% above U.S.
49.5±7.3Highest
27% above U.S.
39.8±6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Temple and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
14.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ware 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%
17.8%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
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
27% below U.S.
$94,107±$15kHighest
17% above U.S.
$45,158±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,900±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
$401,000±$27kHighest
21% above U.S.
$253,400±$31k
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$74Lowest
32% below U.S.
$1,169±$523Highest
17% below U.S.
$1,039±$104
26% below U.S.
Temple and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,638
17% above U.S.
$6,983Highest
124% above U.S.
$3,408Lowest
9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±10.3
U.S.: 51.1%
30.2%±54.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±17.3Highest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
8.3%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Temple 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 — #267 of 282 in MA
School district Hoosac Valley Regional Contoocook Valley School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.