Compare towns
Adams vs Upton vs Ware vs Williamstown
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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Upton | Ware | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,074 |
8,189 |
6,369Lowest |
9,150Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA |
| Adams and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6k 43% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$106,650±$25k about the MA average |
| Upton and Williamstown 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$437,100±$39k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74 45% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,584±$292Highest 10% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638 39% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,290 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±15.4Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 19% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamstown and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #45 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | — | Mt Greylock Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.