Compare towns

Ware vs Tunbridge 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).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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.

MeasureWareTunbridgeNorth Adams
People
Population
6,369
1,253Lowest
12,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.8±6Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.7±8.3
10% above U.S.
44.1±3.5Highest
13% above U.S.
North Adams and Tunbridge 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%
21.1%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Ware and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
North Adams and Tunbridge 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%
42.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.8%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$45,158±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
$89,464±$26kHighest
11% above U.S.
$47,500±$7k
41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$253,400±$31k
24% below U.S.
$315,300±$23kHighest
5% below U.S.
$195,900±$14kLowest
41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,039±$104
26% below U.S.
$1,346±$128Highest
5% below U.S.
$793±$113Lowest
44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,408
9% above U.S.
$4,645Highest
49% above U.S.
$3,078Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
76.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.7%±11Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Tunbridge and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
17 minLowest
34% below U.S.
Work from home
16.6%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
25.8%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.2%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Tunbridge 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 — #268 of 282 in MA
School district — First Branch Unified School District #82 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.