Population 7,720 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Adams
Household size in Adams
| Period | Adams | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.26 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.24 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.17 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.04 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.21 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Adams is a place of small households, averaging 2.04 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.26, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only four of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Adams
| Period | Adams | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.8 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.6 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.3 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.1 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.4 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Adams skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 41.8 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Adams
| Period | Adams | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.8% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.0% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Adams as they are nationally: 12.0%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Massachusetts overall (10.6%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Adams
Renters in Adams
| Period | Adams | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.1% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 38.6% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Adams than nationally: 38.6% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 48.7% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southeast. The renter share is down 2.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Adams
| Period | Adams | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.0% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Adams is close to the national rate: 8.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Adams has a higher vacancy rate than most Massachusetts cities.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Adams
| Period | Adams | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1941 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1941 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1941 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1944 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Adams is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1944, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1941 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the north. Only one other Massachusetts city with 5,000+ people has older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Adams
| Period | Adams | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $630 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $681 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $838 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,043 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$413 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Adams costs $1,043 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $413 a month since 2006–10, up 65%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 35.5% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Adams
Bachelor's degrees in Adams
| Period | Adams | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.9% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.8% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.6% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.8% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Adams: 24.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 4.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only 20 have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Adams
| Period | Adams | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.7% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.4% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.5% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.8 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Adams: 94.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 10.8 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Adams
| Period | Adams | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.0 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Adams than nationally: unemployment was 6.3%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 5.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Adams compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | 2.04 | 46.1 | 12.0% | 38.6% | 8.5% | 1944 | $1,043 | 24.8% | 94.5% | 6.3% |
| Maple Grove | 2.07 | 52.6 | 7.2% | 14.3% | 8.9% | 1949 | $1,131 | 21.3% | 96.2% | 3.2% |
| Zylonite | 2.81 | 40.7 | 14.0% | 32.3% | 5.8% | 1950 | $1,960 | 32.7% | 87.1% | 0.5% |
| Cheshire Harbor | 2.21 | 53.6 | 5.8% | 4.2% | 8.2% | 1970 | $1,116 | 24.3% | 91.4% | 6.2% |
| Town Crest Village | 2.18 | 55.6 | 4.2% | 1.9% | 7.1% | 1974 | $1,097 | 24.4% | 90.9% | 5.7% |
| Cheshire | 2.11 | 53.9 | 7.8% | 13.0% | 9.4% | 1961 | $1,258 | 27.3% | 93.8% | 4.0% |
| North Adams | 2.07 | 43.2 | 9.5% | 45.6% | 13.2% | 1944 | $833 | 28.0% | 91.0% | 4.1% |
| Savoy | 2.13 | 50.2 | 7.6% | 4.3% | 13.3% | 1981 | $912 | 26.6% | 92.3% | 7.1% |
| Drury | 2.17 | 52.7 | 6.6% | 6.7% | 12.9% | 1977 | $894 | 25.1% | 92.5% | 8.0% |
| Farnams | 2.37 | 46.1 | 14.1% | 14.5% | 19.4% | 1975 | $2,094 | 32.4% | 95.6% | 5.9% |
| New Ashford | 2.25 | 55.4 | 2.5% | 11.0% | 14.4% | 1971 | $1,079 | 37.0% | 92.7% | 2.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Calipatria, CA · Sitka, AK · Lincroft, NJ · Wading River, NY · Edgemere, MD · Alpine, TX · Fort Irwin, CA · Mohave Valley, AZ · Glennville, GA · Glen St. Mary, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Adams. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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