Compare towns
Ware vs North Adams vs Winchendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Winchendon has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | North Adams | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
12,606Highest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| North Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchendon and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| North Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% MA: 47.3% |
28.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA |
$75,690±$14kHighest 27% below MA |
| Winchendon and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
$323,800±$19kHighest 42% below MA |
| Winchendon and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
| Winchendon and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
$3,780 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.6%Highest MA: 10% |
18.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
51%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Winchendon 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 | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.6Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.