Compare towns
Adams vs Ware vs Woonsocket 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 oldest population (median age 47.3).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Woonsocket | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,074 |
6,369Lowest |
43,521Highest |
9,150 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
37.5±6.9 4% below U.S. |
| Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
28.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6k 27% below U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$106,650±$25kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$437,100±$39kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,584±$292Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638 17% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$5,290Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.4 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% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #230 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #45 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | — | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Woonsocket High School | Mt Greylock Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.2Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.