North Adams 55 Below average
North Adams Livability #240 ranked city in Massachusetts#23,060 ranked city in the USARanks better than 21% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in North Adams

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

  • Crime Crime

    This area reports elevated crime rates per 100,000 individuals, potentially pointing some areas being unsafe for its residents. Stats are based on both property and violent crimes.

  • Schools Schools

    The low schools score could result from issues like below-average graduation rates, inadequate reading and math scores, and the unavailability of local elementary and high schools.

  • Ratings Ratings

    AreaVibes collected feedback from local residents in the area through surveys and polls, and the results did not show a favorable view of things like local amenities and the safety of the area.

What's it like Living in North Adams?

Located in the state of Massachusetts, North Adams is a moderately-sized city with a population of 13,232 people. The majority of North Adams residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Asian and Black. In North Adams, only 44% of people over the age of fifteen are married. This city could be a good option for singles ready to mingle. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in North Adams will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 20 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in North Adams could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Massachusetts if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around North Adams, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, cost of living, commute, health & safety, education and more.

The livability score in North Adams is 56 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 22nd percentile of all cities across America. This score ranks well below the national average. With such a low livability score, it might be worth investigating a little further. For each of the livability categories, we know that North Adams ranks very well for cost of living (A-) and housing (A). There are some categories that North Adams does not rank well for, including: amenities (F), crime (F) and education (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to find out why.

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their North Adams apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Assuming that North Adams meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in North Adams. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in North Adams are simply unattainable. The median home price for North Adams homes is $273,278, which is 56.2% lower than the Massachusetts average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in North Adams, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.7, which is 37.3% lower than the Massachusetts average.

Best Places to Live in and Around North Adams

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How Do You Rate The Livability In North Adams?

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      North Adams transportation information

      Statistic North Adams Massachusetts National
      Average one way commute20min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work74.8%71.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.1%7.5%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit1.1%9.9%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.2%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk11.3%4.9%2.8%
      Working from home5.2%4.7%4.6%
      Source: The North Adams, MA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.