Compare towns
Ware vs Ashfield 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
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Ashfield has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Ware | Ashfield | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369 |
1,893Lowest |
12,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
44.1±3.5 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$80,833±$16kHighest 22% below MA |
$47,500±$7k 54% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,100±$200Highest 38% below MA |
$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
| Ashfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408 43% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% MA: 10% |
9.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
51%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.