Compare towns
Adams vs Ware vs Webster 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 oldest population (median age 47.3).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Ware | Webster | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,074 |
6,369Lowest |
17,748Highest |
9,150 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Webster 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6k 43% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$106,650±$25kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$437,100±$39kHighest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,584±$292Highest 10% below MA |
| Williamstown and Webster 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$5,290Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±15.4 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
11.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 19% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #230 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #45 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | — | Webster | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bartlett High School | Mt Greylock Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.