City profile · Massachusetts · Census ACS 2023

North Adams, MA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for North Adams - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

12,660
Residents
$48,521
Median income
$185,300
Median home
$1,626
Median rent (state)

North Adams - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, North Adams places in the 17th percentile for household income and the 9th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

17th
percentile, household income
38th
percentile, home value
64th
percentile, median rent
9th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: North Adams, MA

12,660 people live in North Adams, Massachusetts - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in North Adams brings in $48,521 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 12.8%. North Adams's housing stock carries a median value of $185,300, and the median resident age is 44.4 years. About 27.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 51.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 2 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Low Activity). North Adams's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 3751.5 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Massachusetts carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Massachusetts at 105.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,626 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Massachusetts's average monthly utility costs around $330 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 84.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

12,660 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Massachusetts

Median Household Income

$48,521 /yr

Poverty 12.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.8 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Massachusetts average

How does North Adams compare to other US cities?

Where North Adams sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 17% higher than other cities
Home value 38% pricier than other cities
Median rent 64% pricier than other cities
Safety 9% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Massachusetts alone, North Adams ranks #148 of 149 Massachusetts cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares North Adams against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Massachusetts only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Massachusetts-relative analysis

Median Home Value places North Adams near the bottom of Massachusetts's cities

Among the 240 Massachusetts cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, North Adams ranks #240 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares North Adams only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#232 of 233
0th percentile in Massachusetts
Median Gross Rent
#224 of 247
5th percentile in Massachusetts
Median Home Value
#240 of 240
0th percentile in Massachusetts
Poverty Rate
#23 of 247
91st percentile in Massachusetts
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#205 of 247
17th percentile in Massachusetts

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Massachusetts only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

17thIncome percentile
9thSafety percentile

17th percentile nationally for median household income · 9th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

North Adams's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

North Adams's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 25 Avg. percentile National median
North Adams's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How North Adams's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$185,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 62% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. North Adams $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - North Adams, MA North Adams, MA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not North Adams, MA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution North Adams, MA median $48,521/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
North Adams, MA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for North Adams, MA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 27.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
12,660
Median Income
$48,521
Median Home Value
$185,300
Median Age
44.4
Poverty Rate
12.8%
Labor force participation
51.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
27.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3751.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1194.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2557.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
12,200 residents12,400 residents12,600 residents12,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 12,732 residents 12,368 residents ▼ -2.9%
North Adams's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 2
2022 3
2023 1
2024 2

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.1%
Carpool
8.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
9.4%
Work from Home
9.7%

Based on 5,294 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Massachusetts - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$160
avg/month
Natural Gas
$110
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$330
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Massachusetts state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Massachusetts state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county North Adams sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.8
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,626/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
84.0 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Massachusetts

Palmer
12,372 people
Lynnfield
12,964 people
Webster
12,300 people
South Yarmouth
11,642 people
Holbrook
11,320 people
Nantucket
10,837 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to North Adams's 12,660 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Verde, AZ
12,662 people
Canóvanas zona urbana, PR
12,662 people
Enumclaw, WA
12,663 people
Eufaula, AL
12,664 people
Robinson, TX
12,668 people
Sarasota Springs, FL
12,669 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to North Adams's $48,521 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Aguila, AZ
$48,523 median income
Mesa Verde, CA
$48,523 median income
Goldonna, LA
$48,523 median income
Quapaw, OK
$48,523 median income
Forest Heights, TX
$48,523 median income
Hallandale Beach, FL
$48,518 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - North Adams, MA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition North Adams, MA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.1% White 89.0% Black or African American 1.3% Asian 3.1% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.9% Two or more races 4.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How North Adams compares to nearby Massachusetts cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
North Adams (this city) 12,660 $48,521
Palmer 12,372 $78,789
Lynnfield 12,964 $172,484
Webster 12,300 $60,384
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about North Adams, MA?

What is the population of North Adams, MA? +

North Adams, MA counts 12,660 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in North Adams, MA? +

In North Adams, the typical household earns $48,521 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in North Adams? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for North Adams; the closest available measure is the Massachusetts state average, a cost of living index of 105.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Massachusetts vary by metro area.

Is North Adams, MA safe? +

North Adams has a total crime rate of 3751.5 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in North Adams, MA? +

Homes in North Adams carry a median value of $185,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.