Compare towns
Adams vs Ware vs Windsor vs Spencer
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).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Windsor has the most homeowners (96.2%).
Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Windsor | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,074 |
6,369 |
1,065Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3 18% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Adams 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% |
41.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Adams 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 43% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Windsor and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
— | $1,078±$161Highest 39% below MA |
| Spencer and Ware 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 |
$3,867 35% below MA |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 19% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | — | — | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.