Compare towns

Ware vs Otis vs 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).
Otis has the highest household income ($109k).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.

MeasureWareOtisAdams
People
Population
6,369
1,624Lowest
8,074Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%
MA: +7.4%
-3.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.8±6Lowest
about the MA average
51±3.2Highest
28% above MA
47.3±3.3
18% above MA
Otis and 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
MA: 19.4%
15.1%±4.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
15.7%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Adams 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%
28%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
25.2%±3.4
MA: 17.9%
Otis and Adams 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%
39.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±1.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
Adams and Ware 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
57% below MA
$108,898±$6kHighest
5% above MA
$58,929±$6k
43% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$253,400±$31k
55% below MA
$396,700±$40kHighest
29% below MA
$209,900±$15kLowest
63% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,039±$104
41% below MA
$1,318±$924Highest
25% below MA
$963±$74Lowest
45% below MA
Otis 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
$2,408Lowest
60% below MA
$3,638Highest
39% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±17.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
63.3%±100
MA: 51.8%
62.1%±10.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.1%Highest
MA: 10%
1.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
13.2%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
62.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
9% below MA
34 minHighest
15% above MA
24 minLowest
19% below MA
Work from home
16.6%±5
MA: 18.6%
22.3%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.3%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Otis 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 — #230 of 282 in MA
School district — Farmington River Reg Hoosac Valley Regional
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.