North Adams is a small town of 510 in Michigan, with a median household income of $53,000
and a 2.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
North Adams stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether North Adams is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All North Adams 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: 90.7
North Adams's overall cost of living index is 90.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in North Adams costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
North Adams, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$97,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$775
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$53,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
North Adams's violent crime rate is 210.5 per 100,000 residents
— 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
210.5 /100k
Property Crime
701.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
North Adams is served primarily by North Adams-Jerome Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
North Adams, MI
National Avg
School District
North Adams-Jerome Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
North Adams sees average highs of 30.6°F in January
and 82.5°F in July,
with 37.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 44.1 inches of snow per year.
North Adams's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes North Adams roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $97,200 and median rent is $775/month.
North Adams's violent crime rate is 210.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 701.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in North Adams are operated by North Adams-Jerome Public Schools.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 15.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
North Adams, MI has a population of 510, a median household income of $53,000, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
North Adams averages 30.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.7 inches
with about 44.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
North Adams, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49262.
The population of North Adams, Michigan is 510 with a median age of 35.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in North Adams: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $97,200, median household income $53,000, crime index 47 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare North Adams side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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