Compare towns

Greenfield vs Wareham vs North Adams

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Greenfield has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Wareham has the highest household income ($90k).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k median).

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.

MeasureGreenfieldWarehamNorth Adams
People
Population
17,664
23,302Highest
12,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-5.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±2.1
12% above MA
52.1±3.1Highest
30% above MA
44.1±3.5Lowest
10% above MA
Kids under 18
18.3%±1.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.1%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
15.7%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
Greenfield and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.4%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
26.2%±3.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.6%±2.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Wareham and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
27.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
28.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
9.8%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,614±$7k
47% below MA
$90,383±$11kHighest
13% below MA
$47,500±$7kLowest
54% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$263,100±$16k
53% below MA
$424,500±$21kHighest
24% below MA
$195,900±$14kLowest
65% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$67
37% below MA
$1,504±$180Highest
15% below MA
$793±$113Lowest
55% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,769Highest
20% below MA
$4,341
28% below MA
$3,078Lowest
49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.2%±7.3
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±23.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
63.7%±11Highest
MA: 51.8%
North Adams and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.2%
MA: 10%
6.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
18.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%
MA: 62.5%
83.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
51%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
17 yrs older than MA
1958Highest
6 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
40% below MA
28 minHighest
5% below MA
17 minLowest
40% below MA
Work from home
11.9%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
12.4%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
9.2%±3.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Wareham and Greenfield 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 #257 of 282 in MA #272 of 282 in MA #268 of 282 in MA
School district Greenfield Wareham North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Greenfield High Wareham Senior High Charles McCann Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Highest
8.6Lowest
10.6
On TownTapestry
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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.