Compare towns
Ware vs Springfield vs Ware 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 people working from home (16.6%).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Ware has the highest household income ($67k).
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.
| Measure | Ware | Springfield | Ware | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369Lowest |
154,749Highest |
10,048 |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA |
| North Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
28.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| North Adams and Springfield 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 |
$52,656±$2k 49% below MA |
$67,475±$15kHighest 35% below MA |
$47,500±$7k 54% below MA |
| Ware and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$245,000±$4k 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28kHighest 48% below MA |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
| Springfield 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 |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
51% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Springfield | Ware | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.1 |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.