Compare towns
Ware vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Thompson | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369Lowest |
9,337 |
12,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and North 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$47,500±$7k 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104Highest 26% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Ware and Thompson 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. |
$3,822Highest 23% 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% |
54%±18.7Lowest 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.