Compare towns
Williamstown vs Marblehead vs Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Williamstown | Marblehead | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,150 |
20,413Highest |
8,074Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
47.3±3.3 18% above MA |
| Marblehead and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.9% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,650±$25k about the MA average |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $437,100±$39k 22% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,584±$292 10% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
| Marblehead and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,290 12% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Adams and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 45% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
24 min 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 27.3%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Williamstown 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 | #45 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mount Greylock | Marblehead | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | Mt Greylock Regional High | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.