The Town FilesTurners Falls, Massachusetts
Community in Franklin County · population 4,512 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $246,700
- Household income
- $54,772
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 42.9
Turners Falls is a community of 4,512 people in Franklin County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $246,700, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks hipper than 97% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 85% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 76% of Massachusetts towns.
How Turners Falls 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 Turners Falls is worth $246,700, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $54,772, which is more affordable than 54% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,116 a month. 55.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Turners Falls | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $246,700 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,116 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $54,772 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 55.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Turners Falls
| People | Turners Falls | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.2% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.5% | 93.9% |
Weather in Turners Falls
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.0 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Turners Falls since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 11, 2006 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 25, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 22, 2013.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 22 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 Franklin County
Franklin County had 25,435 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,261 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Turners Falls itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Turners Falls
3 public schools with 970 students, about 10.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County Technical | 9-12 | 621 | 10.9 |
| Sheffield Elementary School | 2-5 | 212 | 10.1 |
| Hillcrest Elementary School | PK-1 | 137 | 8.6 |
Towns near Turners Falls
- Greenfield, MA2.4 mi · 17,768 people · home $263,100
- Montague, MA3.4 mi · 8,580 people · home $282,100
- Deerfield, MA6.2 mi · 5,090 people · home $414,900
- Northfield, MA7.6 mi · 2,866 people · home $375,800
- Sunderland, MA9.0 mi · 3,663 people · home $458,100
- Orange, MA13.5 mi · 7,569 people · home $245,900
- Orange, MA13.5 mi · 3,636 people · home $231,400
- Hatfield, MA14.6 mi · 3,352 people · home $440,800
Turners Falls questions
Is Turners Falls, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Turners Falls scores better for retirees than 47% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 38%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Turners Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in Turners Falls is valued at $246,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,772, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,116 a month.
What is the weather like in Turners Falls?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 52.0 inches of snow.
Does Turners Falls get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Turners Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 11, 2006. 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)