Compare towns
Adams vs Temple vs Williamstown
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).
Williamstown has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Temple | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074 |
1,363Lowest |
9,150Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3 22% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
37.5±6.9Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Adams and Williamstown 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%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Adams and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
28.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$106,650±$25kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Temple 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. |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
$437,100±$39kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
$1,584±$292Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Temple 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. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$5,290 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Adams and Williamstown 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% |
9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamstown and Temple 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 | — | #45 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Contoocook Valley School District | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Greylock Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.