Compare towns
Ware vs Auburn 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
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Auburn | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369 |
6,119Lowest |
12,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5 13% above U.S. |
| Auburn and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Adams and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$47,500±$7k 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Auburn and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408 9% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest 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 | 14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Auburn School District | 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 |
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.