Compare towns
Webster vs Webster vs Ware vs North Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Webster | Webster | Ware | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,228 |
17,748Highest |
10,048Lowest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA |
| North Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±2.6Highest 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+ | 18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
28.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8k 39% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA |
| Webster and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234 46% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11 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 | 16% MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
51% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and North Adams 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Webster | Ware | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | Bartlett High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
11.1 |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.