Compare towns
Adams vs Woonsocket vs Ware 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 oldest population (median age 47.3).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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.
| Measure | Adams | Woonsocket | Ware | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,074Lowest |
43,521Highest |
10,048 |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% 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. |
43.1±4.7 11% above 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest 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±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Ware and Woonsocket 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. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Woonsocket and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74 32% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Woonsocket and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638 17% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% 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% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and North 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Highest 20 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. |
28 min 8% 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% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and North 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Ware | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
11.1 |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.