Compare towns
Ware vs Webster vs 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 youngest population (median age 39.8).
Webster has the highest household income ($107k).
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.
| Measure | Ware | Webster | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369 |
2,227Lowest |
8,074Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Adams and Webster 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% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 44% below U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$58,929±$6k 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Webster and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,638 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older 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. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster 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 | — | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 |
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.