City profile · Massachusetts · Census ACS 2023

Shelburne Falls, MA

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

1,755
Residents
$52,604
Median income
$296,000
Median home
$1,866
Median rent (state)

Shelburne Falls - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Shelburne Falls lands in the 24th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

24th
percentile, household income
64th
percentile, home value
79th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Shelburne Falls, MA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,755 residents in Shelburne Falls, a small town within Massachusetts. Shelburne Falls households earn a median of $52,604 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 10.3%. Shelburne Falls's housing stock carries a median value of $296,000, and the median resident age is 49.6 years. Educational attainment runs 45.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

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 $1,866 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Massachusetts's average monthly utility costs around $330 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 60.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

1,755 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Massachusetts

Median Household Income

$52,604 /yr

Poverty 10.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.8 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Massachusetts average

How does Shelburne Falls compare to other US cities?

Shelburne Falls measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 24% higher than other cities
Home value 64% pricier than other cities
Median rent 79% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Shelburne Falls 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 Shelburne Falls toward the bottom of Massachusetts's cities

Among the 240 Massachusetts cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Shelburne Falls ranks #209 - the 13th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Shelburne Falls only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#226 of 233
3rd percentile in Massachusetts
Median Gross Rent
#172 of 247
27th percentile in Massachusetts
Median Home Value
#209 of 240
13th percentile in Massachusetts
Poverty Rate
#41 of 247
83rd percentile in Massachusetts
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#123 of 247
50th 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.

24thIncome percentile

24th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Shelburne Falls's home value compares nationally

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

$296,000 36th percentile more affordable than 36% 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%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Shelburne Falls $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 - Shelburne Falls, MA Shelburne Falls, MA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Shelburne Falls, 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 Shelburne Falls, MA median $52,604/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%
Shelburne Falls, 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 Shelburne Falls, MA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 45.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.0%

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

Population
1,755
Median Income
$52,604
Median Home Value
$296,000
Median Age
49.6
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Labor force participation
54.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
45.4%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
68.9%
Carpool
2.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
7.4%
Work from Home
20.2%
Other
0.6%

Based on 761 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 Shelburne Falls sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.8
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,866/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
60.7 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Massachusetts

Bourne
1,765 people
Hanscom AFB
1,745 people
Essex
1,775 people
Teaticket
1,728 people
Monson Center
1,794 people
Rutland
1,796 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Shelburne Falls's 1,755 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ironton, MO
1,755 people
Cuba, NY
1,755 people
St. Lawrence, PA
1,755 people
Haubstadt, IN
1,754 people
Lake Brownwood, TX
1,754 people
Blountsville, AL
1,757 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Shelburne Falls's $52,604 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Swink, CO
$52,604 median income
Gwinn, MI
$52,609 median income
Beacon Square, FL
$52,598 median income
South Houston, TX
$52,611 median income
New Eagle, PA
$52,612 median income
Bryant, IL
$52,614 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Shelburne Falls, 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 Shelburne Falls, MA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.9% 9.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.0% White 85.9% Black or African American 0.2% Asian 2.6% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.0% Two or more races 9.3% 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 Shelburne Falls 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
Shelburne Falls (this city) 1,755 $52,604
Bourne 1,765 $125,366
Hanscom AFB 1,745 $101,194
Essex 1,775 $156,094
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Shelburne Falls, MA?

What is the population of Shelburne Falls, MA? +

Shelburne Falls, MA has a population of 1,755 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Shelburne Falls, MA? +

Median annual household income in Shelburne Falls runs $52,604, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Shelburne Falls? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Shelburne Falls; 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.

What is the median home value in Shelburne Falls, MA? +

A typical home in Shelburne Falls is worth $296,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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.