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Living in
North Adams.
About
Life in North Adams
North Adams is a community of 12,660 people in Massachusetts. The median household income is $47,500, median rent runs about $793 per month, and median home values are around $195,900. The average commute is 17.3 minutes.
North Adams at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.6%
Foreign-Born
5.4%
Broadband Internet
88.8%
of households
Population Growth
-4.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.4% foreign-born, most often from Nepal
Who lives in North Adams: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In North Adams, the largest foreign-born group is from Nepal (48.8%), and 2.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.7%
of residents
65 and Older
21.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
18.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.3%
of households
Married Couples
30.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.98
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 55% below MA average
Rent, home values, and income in North Adams
In North Adams, rent runs 55% below the MA average, and home values are 65% below the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,078
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
15.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $259,193 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above MA average
Unemployment in North Adams
Unemployment in North Adams is 0.9 percentage points higher than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What North Adams Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.4 min avg
How North Adams residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In North Adams, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 35 mi
Albany International Airport (ALB)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 57 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 109 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 259% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in North Adams runs 259% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,182.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,542.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
North Adams Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 38 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Berkshire County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Berkshire County, which includes North Adams, the most common type is winter weather, with 38 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 38 | Strong Wind | $1,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | Winter Weather | $82,500 |
| 2023 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.7M |
| 2022 | 37 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 44 | Thunderstorm Wind | $387,500 |
| 2020 | 26 | Winter Weather | $18,000 |
| 2019 | 35 | Strong Wind | $17,000 |
| 2018 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Berkshire County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Berkshire County, which includes North Adams, is typically good — 285 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
285
per year
Moderate Days
76
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Berkshire County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
North Adams has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.3"
Annual Snowfall
85.3"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
149
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
153
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 14°F | 2.52" |
| Feb | 35°F | 16°F | 1.97" |
| Mar | 44°F | 24°F | 3.08" |
| Apr | 57°F | 34°F | 3.12" |
| May | 69°F | 44°F | 3.73" |
| Jun | 76°F | 53°F | 4.41" |
| Jul | 81°F | 58°F | 4.13" |
| Aug | 79°F | 56°F | 4.47" |
| Sep | 72°F | 49°F | 4.22" |
| Oct | 60°F | 38°F | 4.28" |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 3.25" |
| Dec | 38°F | 22°F | 3.12" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in North Adams
North Adams has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
1.2%
of residents
North Adams Regional Hospital Corporation
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.8 mi away · Bennington
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education10.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in North Adams
North Adams's student/teacher ratio is 10.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in North Adams
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Public · 4-year · 713 students · in-state tuition $12,748 · 58% graduate · median earnings $52,507 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Coltsville National Historical Park, 16 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for North Adams
North Adams has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Coltsville National Historical Park (16 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Coltsville National Historical Park
National Historical Park
16 mi awaySaratoga National Historical Park
National Historical Park
34 mi awayMartin Van Buren National Historic Site
National Historic Site
37 mi awayNew England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
41 mi awaySpringfield Armory National Historic Site
National Historic Site
48 mi awayThomas Cole National Historic Site
National Historic Site
49 mi awaySaint-Gaudens National Historical Park
National Historical Park
68 mi awayMarsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park
National Historical Park
72 mi awayPublic Libraries in North Adams
North Adams Public Library
74 Church St., North Adams
Cities Near North Adams
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to North Adams?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
North Adams FAQ
Is North Adams, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
North Adams's median rent is $793/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $47,500/year. Median home value is $195,900.
Is North Adams, Massachusetts safe?⌄
North Adams's violent crime rate was 1183 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2543 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in North Adams, Massachusetts?⌄
North Adams has an unemployment rate of 5.4%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in North Adams, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in North Adams is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $793/month and median household income is $47,500/year. The median home value is $195,900. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in North Adams, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in North Adams is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from