Compare towns

Adams vs Woonsocket vs North Adams

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 homeowners (62.1%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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.

MeasureAdamsWoonsocketNorth Adams
People
Population
8,074Lowest
43,521Highest
12,606
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.3±3.3Highest
22% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
44.1±3.5
13% above U.S.
Adams and North 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
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
25.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Adams and North 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
9.8%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,929±$6k
27% below U.S.
$61,059±$5kHighest
24% below U.S.
$47,500±$7kLowest
41% below U.S.
Woonsocket and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,900±$15k
37% below U.S.
$311,000±$15kHighest
7% below U.S.
$195,900±$14kLowest
41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$74
32% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Highest
18% below U.S.
$793±$113Lowest
44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,638
17% above U.S.
$3,960Highest
27% above U.S.
$3,078Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±10.3
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.7%±11Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
North Adams and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
51%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1952Highest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
11% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
17 minLowest
34% below U.S.
Work from home
8.3%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.2%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Adams and Adams 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 #37 of 38 in RI #268 of 282 in MA
School district Hoosac Valley Regional RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town None in town Woonsocket High School Charles McCann Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2Highest
10.6Lowest
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.