Downtown Shelburne Falls, MA - looking toward bridge and hillside (October 2025) · Marty Aligata / CC BY-SA 4.0Deerfield River in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts · Jerry Schoen / CC BY-SA 2.0Bridge of Flowers and Iron Bridge, Shelburne Falls, MA (June 2026) · Marty Aligata / CC BY-SA 4.0Glacial Potholes, Shelburne Falls, MA (June 2026) · Marty Aligata / CC BY-SA 4.0
Shelburne Falls is a small town of 1,699 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $54,250
and a 7.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is
2% below the national average.
Strengths:
Shelburne Falls stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Shelburne Falls is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Shelburne Falls city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 98.4
Shelburne Falls's overall cost of living index is 98.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shelburne Falls costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shelburne Falls, MA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$290,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$998
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
55.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Shelburne Falls's violent crime rate is 232.3 per 100,000 residents
— 39% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
232.3 /100k
Property Crime
645.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Shelburne Falls is served primarily by Mohawk Trail.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Shelburne Falls, MA
National Avg
School District
Mohawk Trail
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
44.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shelburne Falls sees average highs of 28.2°F in January
and 74.8°F in July,
with 52.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 85.3 inches of snow per year.
Shelburne Falls's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shelburne Falls roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $290,500 and median rent is $998/month.
Shelburne Falls's violent crime rate is 232.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 645.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Shelburne Falls are operated by Mohawk Trail.
The district has 3 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1. 44.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shelburne Falls, MA has a population of 1,699, a median household income of $54,250, and an unemployment rate of 7.1%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Shelburne Falls averages 28.2°F in January and 74.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.2 inches
with about 85.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shelburne Falls, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 01370.
The population of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts is 1,699 with a median age of 50.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shelburne Falls: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $290,500, median household income $54,250, crime index 49 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shelburne Falls side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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