Compare towns
Ware vs Worcester 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 people working from home (16.6%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Adams has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
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 | Worcester | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369Lowest |
207,055Highest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
| Adams and Ware 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$70,102±$2kHighest 33% below MA |
$58,929±$6k 43% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,638 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
13.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.