North Adams, MA
Census place 2546225 · pop 12,606
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.53 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
20.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$47,500 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
580 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-2.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
51.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
16.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
18.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.57% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
88.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
4.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
1614 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
26.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
28.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
33.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,525/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$195,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
38 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
59/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
6.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
17 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
Frequently asked
- Is North Adams, MA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, North Adams scores 45/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is commute time and its weakest is income inequality. Massachusetts overall ranks #34 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is North Adams, MA?
- North Adams reports 580 violent crimes per 100k and 1614 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is North Adams, MA expensive to live in?
- North Adams has a median home value of $195,900 and typical rent around $1,525/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in North Adams, MA?
- Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.53) — 4/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is North Adams, MA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is commute time (17 min) — 89/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.