Compare towns
Ware vs Williamsburg vs Athol 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 renters (42.6% rent).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Williamsburg | Athol | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369 |
2,694Lowest |
12,011Highest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
47.3±3.3 18% above MA |
| Williamsburg 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% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Athol 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% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Williamsburg 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% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
24.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Adams 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 |
$104,792±$21kHighest about the MA average |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$58,929±$6k 43% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$403,100±$37kHighest 28% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,420±$228Highest 19% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
| Williamsburg and Athol 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 |
$5,761Highest 4% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,638 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
13.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
62.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1955Highest 9 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
27 minHighest 8% below MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Williamsburg | Athol-Royalston | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.