The Town FilesNorth Adams, Massachusetts
City in Berkshire County · population 12,961 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $195,900
- Household income
- $47,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 44.1
North Adams is a city of 12,961 people in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $195,900, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks hipper than 92% of Massachusetts towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 79% of Massachusetts towns.
How North 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 North Adams is worth $195,900, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $47,500, which is more affordable than 70% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $793 a month. 51.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Adams | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $195,900 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $793 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $47,500 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 51.0% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in North Adams
| People | North Adams | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.4% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.6% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in North 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 75.2 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
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North 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 2.4 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 North Adams itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in North Adams
5 public schools with 1,727 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles McCann Vocational Technical | 9-12 | 520 | 10.8 |
| Drury High | 7-12 | 465 | 10.3 |
| Greylock | PK-6 | 270 | 11.7 |
| Colegrove Park Elementary | PK-6 | 254 | 9.1 |
| Brayton | PK-6 | 218 | 8.1 |
Towns near North Adams
- Adams, MA3.2 mi · 5,466 people · home $197,400
- Adams, MA3.5 mi · 8,166 people · home $209,900
- Williamstown, MA4.8 mi · 4,308 people · home $439,300
- Williamstown, MA5.5 mi · 7,513 people · home $437,100
- Cheshire, MA7.8 mi · 3,258 people · home $268,200
- Pownal, VT9.3 mi · 3,258 people · home $256,600
- Lanesborough, MA11.5 mi · 3,038 people · home $299,400
- Dalton, MA13.6 mi · 6,330 people · home $295,700
North Adams questions
Is North Adams, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Adams scores better for retirees than 11% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 30%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in North Adams?
The median owner-occupied home in North Adams is valued at $195,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,500, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $793 a month.
What is the weather like in North 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 75.2 inches of snow.
Does North Adams get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North 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)