Compare towns
Ware vs Winchester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Winchester has the most homeowners (72.7%).
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 | Winchester | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369 |
4,212Lowest |
8,074Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±4.5 10% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Adams and Winchester 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% |
18.9%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Winchester 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% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$67,723±$11kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$58,929±$6k 27% below U.S. |
| Winchester and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31kHighest 24% below U.S. |
$242,900±$20k 27% below U.S. |
$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Ware and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,209±$143Highest 14% below U.S. |
$963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Winchester 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. |
$5,314Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,638 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±17.7Lowest 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% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 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 |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #120 of 120 in NH | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Winchester 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.