Compare towns
Adams vs Thompson 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).
Thompson 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.
| Measure | Adams | Thompson | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074 |
9,337Highest |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3 22% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Adams and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Ware 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. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Highest 26% below U.S. |
| Ware and Thompson 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. |
$3,822Highest 23% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Lowest 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| 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.