What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williamstown has the most people working from home (27.3%).

North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Williamstown	North Adams
People
Population	9,150Lowest	12,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA	44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA
	North Adams and Williamstown 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%	15.7%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Adams and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	21.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Williamstown and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	28.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%	9.8%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,650±$25kHighest about the MA average	$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$437,100±$39kHighest 22% below MA	$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,584±$292Highest 10% below MA	$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,290Highest 12% below MA	$3,078Lowest 49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Adams and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Lowest MA: 10%	18.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	51%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 45% below MA	17 minHighest 40% below MA
Work from home	27.3%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6%	9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#45 of 282 in MA	#268 of 282 in MA
School district	Mount Greylock	North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Mt Greylock Regional High	Charles McCann Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.