The Town FilesAdams, Massachusetts
Community in Berkshire County · population 5,466 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,400
- Household income
- $48,775
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 47.6
Adams is a community of 5,466 people in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $197,400, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks hipper than 98% of Massachusetts towns, better for cycling than 95% of Massachusetts towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
How Adams ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Adams is worth $197,400, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $48,775, which is more affordable than 74% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $927 a month. 56.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Adams | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,400 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $927 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $48,775 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 56.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Adams
| People | Adams | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.0% | 93.9% |
Weather in Adams
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 14.3°F. About 42.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 76.1 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Adams since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 1, 1966 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 3, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Berkshire County since 1996
Berkshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Berkshire County
Berkshire County had 57,946 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,257 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Adams itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Towns near Adams
- Adams, MA0.2 mi · 8,166 people · home $209,900
- North Adams, MA3.2 mi · 12,961 people · home $195,900
- Cheshire, MA4.7 mi · 3,258 people · home $268,200
- Williamstown, MA6.9 mi · 4,308 people · home $439,300
- Williamstown, MA7.0 mi · 7,513 people · home $437,100
- Lanesborough, MA9.0 mi · 3,038 people · home $299,400
- Dalton, MA10.5 mi · 6,330 people · home $295,700
- Pownal, VT12.1 mi · 3,258 people · home $256,600
Adams questions
Is Adams, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Adams scores better for retirees than 51% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 29%. 25.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.6).
How much does a house cost in Adams?
The median owner-occupied home in Adams is valued at $197,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,775, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $927 a month.
What is the weather like in Adams?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 14.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.3 inches of precipitation a year and 76.1 inches of snow.
Does Adams get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Adams since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 1, 1966. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)