Compare towns
Ware vs Hudson 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 the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Hudson | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369Lowest |
20,077Highest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA |
| North Adams and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North Adams and Hudson 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 MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$103,400±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$47,500±$7k 54% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$496,800±$22kHighest 12% below MA |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,406±$82Highest 20% below MA |
$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408 43% below MA |
$6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest 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% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
51%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hudson 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hudson | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | Hudson High | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.