Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

City · 5,427 residents · Berkshire County, Massachusetts

Adams , Massachusetts

In Adams, a typical home is worth $197,400 and typical rent is $927 a month. Compared with all of Berkshire County, typical household income is 36% lower, the typical home value is 35% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 13 points lower.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home value

    $197,400

    35% below the county

    65% below Massachusetts

    • Adams
    • Berkshire
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical rent

    $927a month

    15% below the county

    47% below Massachusetts

    • Adams
    • Berkshire
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical household income

    $48,775a year

    36% below the county

    53% below Massachusetts

    • Adams
    • Berkshire
    • Massachusetts

  • Households that own their home

    57%

    13 points below the county

    6 points below Massachusetts

    • Adams
    • Berkshire
    • Massachusetts

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$271,423
2.5% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Adams is in Berkshire County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Berkshire County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Adams apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Adams has the 2nd lowest typical home value of the 123 cities in Massachusetts with more than 5,000 people ($197,400).

  2. Adams has the 2nd lowest typical rent of the 121 cities in Massachusetts with more than 5,000 people ($927).

  3. Adams has the 3rd lowest typical household income of the 123 cities in Massachusetts with more than 5,000 people ($48,775).

  4. 57% of households in Adams own their home, against 70% in Berkshire County.

  5. 12% of households in Adams have no internet at home (7% in Berkshire County).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Adams

What homes there are in Adams, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Homes in Adams are varied: detached houses are the largest group, at 42%, against 66% in Berkshire County.

Year built

Old homes abound here: at least half date from before 1940, and 79% were built before 1960.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a HUD fair market rent of $1,704 for 2 bedrooms, at least 93% of rented homes in Adams sit below it.

With a mortgage

$1,404 a month

Berkshire County: $1,816 a month

Without a mortgage

$724 a month

Berkshire County: $805 a month

Owners with a mortgage

51%

Berkshire County: 59%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Adams is $1,404 a month, less than in Berkshire County ($1,816); without one, $724.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The Census does not compare Adams with 2015–2019 because its boundaries changed. In Berkshire County, over that time, the typical home value rose 41%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureAdamsBerkshire CountyMassachusettsUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate3.0%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.6%0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.0%2.3%3.4%
People per household 1.852.142.442.53
Drive alone 87%71%61%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate7%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate2%7%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate5%5%3%
Work from home 8%14%19%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 1.85 on average, against 2.14 in Berkshire County.

In Adams, 87% of workers drive alone to work; in Berkshire County, 71%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Adams?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Adams, worth $197,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 44% of the typical household income in Adams, which is $48,775 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $76,300 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Berkshire County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Adams. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,909 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,780

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$193,825
Total interest
$278,868
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,334 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,138 a month

  • Tight

    $1,138 to $1,463 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,463 a month

    Your payment · 44%

Compared with the typical household income in Adams ($48,775 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,780
Principal & interest$1,313
Property tax$298
Home insurance$82
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$87

You need at least $6,909 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Adams and Berkshire County

Adams is in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Adams's own numbers

Typical home value
$197,400
Typical monthly rent
$927
Typical yearly household income
$48,775
Households that own their home
57%
Effective property tax rate
1.81%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Berkshire County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,704–$1,763
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+59%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Berkshire County.

Everything about Berkshire County

Buying

Buying a home in Adams

A typical home in Adams is worth $197,400: 35% below the county and 65% below Massachusetts. With the typical household income in Adams ($48,775 a year), a typical home costs 4.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Adams 4.0 years
  • Berkshire 4.0 years
  • Massachusetts 5.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Berkshire County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Berkshire County rose 82% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Berkshire County.

Period County Massachusetts U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.1% +3.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +59% +49% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +82% +87% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Adams next to Berkshire County, Massachusetts and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Adams $197,400
  • Berkshire $305,400
  • Massachusetts $562,100
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Adams $927
  • Berkshire $1,097
  • Massachusetts $1,762
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Adams $48,775
  • Berkshire $76,013
  • Massachusetts $103,960
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Adams next to Berkshire County and Massachusetts
Measure Adams Berkshire County Massachusetts U.S.
Typical home value $197,400 $305,400 $562,100 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $927 $1,097 $1,762 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $48,775 $76,013 $103,960 $80,734
Households that own their home 57% 70% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,571 $4,036 $5,992 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.81% 1.32% 1.07% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 64% 54% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Berkshire County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Adams

For a typical $197,400 home in Adams, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Adams's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,780a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,909
    Cash to close
    $12,831
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $87

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,744a month

    Down payment
    $9,870
    Cash to close
    $15,792
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $94

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,450a month

    Down payment
    $39,480
    Cash to close
    $45,402
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,632a month

    Down payment
    $29,610
    Cash to close
    $35,532
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Adams and for Berkshire County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Adams

1.81%of the home’s value each year

$3,571 a year for the typical owner in Adams.

  • Adams 1.81%
  • Berkshire 1.32%
  • Massachusetts 1.07%

What Massachusetts publishes Local senior exemption (clause 41C) (Massachusetts General Court (General Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in Massachusetts

Flood risk in Berkshire County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Berkshire County.

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Berkshire County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Adams

Typical rent in Adams is $927 a month: 15% below the county. In Adams, 64% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for each area of Berkshire County; Adams is in Pittsfield, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,704 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $32.77 an hour working full time.

Fair market rent by size in Pittsfield, MA HUD Metro FMR Area

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,315 $25.29 $52,600
1 bedroom $1,324 $25.46 $52,960
2 bedrooms $1,704 $32.77 $68,160
3 bedrooms $2,231 $42.90 $89,240
4 bedrooms $2,848 $54.77 $113,920

HUD splits this county into 2 areas with different fair market rents: for 2 bedrooms they run from $1,704 to $1,763. The table by area, below, shows which one each town is in.

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Fair market rent by HUD area in Berkshire County

HUD splits this county into 2 areas, each with its own fair market rent. Find your town in its area's list; the housing agency tells you which one it uses for your voucher.

HUD area Studio1 bd2 bd3 bd4 bdHourly wage, 2 bd
Pittsfield, MA HUD Metro FMR Area The area where most people liveAdams is in this area
10 towns in this area

Adams town, Cheshire town, Dalton town, Hinsdale town, Lanesborough town, Lee town, Lenox town, Pittsfield city, Richmond town, Stockbridge town

 $1,315$1,324$1,704$2,231$2,848$32.77
Berkshire County, MA (part) HUD Metro FMR Area
22 towns in this area

Alford town, Becket town, Clarksburg town, Egremont town, Florida town, Great Barrington town, Hancock town, Monterey town, Mount Washington town, New Ashford town, New Marlborough town, North Adams city, Otis town, Peru town, Sandisfield town, Savoy town, Sheffield town, Tyringham town, Washington town, West Stockbridge town, Williamstown town, Windsor town

 $1,329$1,348$1,763$2,409$2,947$33.90

HUD fair market rent by area and size, per month, Fiscal year 2027. The wage is what full-time work must pay to rent 2 bedrooms without spending more than 30% of income. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027 Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD)

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Adams

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Adams is in ZIP code 01220.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,510.

  • 01220 $1,510$1,980

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Adams when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Adams

HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Adams. These are the largest.

  • Millhouses of Adams 75 Commercial St, Adams 01220 99 homes, 98 low-income · For older adults
  • Barrett House 17 Pleasant St, Adams 01220 40 low-income homes · For older adults
  • Adams Housing 3 Myrtle St, Adams 01220 60 homes, 35 low-income · For families
  • Friend Street 85 Friend St, Adams 8 homes, 6 low-income · 2 bd: 5 · 3 bd: 1 · In service since 1991

See all 46 buildings in Berkshire County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Adams

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Berkshire County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A grandmother pushes her grandson on a playground swing.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Adams

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Adams or Berkshire County. The ones below are statewide in Massachusetts: they work in Adams the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Massachusetts

  • MassHousing Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Massachusetts

    Massachusetts state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to $30,000 at 0% and deferred, or up to $25,000 at 2% or 3% over 15 years, for first-time buyers with eligible income. Offered by MassHousing.

    DeferredRepayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Adams

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Adams, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority-H

    1 Fenn St Ste 4, Pittsfield · 14 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in French.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (413) 443-7138

  • Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority

    241 Millers Falls Rd, Turners Falls · 30 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 5 more
    (413) 863-9781

  • Valley Community Development Corporation

    256 Pleasant St Ste A, Northampton · 33 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    413-586-5855x180

Every agency in Berkshire County All counseling agencies in Massachusetts

Help in Spanish near Adams

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Adams

HUD’s record names them for Adams or Berkshire County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

4 other authorities have an office in Berkshire County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Berkshire County

These cities are also in Berkshire County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Berkshire County Housing in Massachusetts

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Adams, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Berkshire County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Adams.

All guides
A smiling girl holds up a small mushroom she found on a forest outing.

Questions

Housing questions about Adams

Short answers with the numbers for Adams and all of Berkshire County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Adams?

The typical home value in Adams is $197,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Berkshire County it is $305,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Adams?

Typical rent in Adams is $927 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Berkshire County is $1,704–$1,763.

What is the FHA loan limit in Adams?

Adams uses the FHA limit for all of Berkshire County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Adams?

The typical homeowner in Adams pays $3,571 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.81% of the home’s value; in Berkshire County, the rate is 1.32%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Adams?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Berkshire County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).