F

Gilbertville, MA

Source:

Affordability Score: 36/100

Population: 1,308 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Gilbertville, MA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 1,308 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (36/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $60,517, median home value of $245,600, median rent of $1,175 per month, and 24.0% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,749 per month (studio $1,206, 1BR $1,410, 3BR $2,247, 4BR $2,637). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $20,296 per year, consuming 34% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are education, housing, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 3.3% and poverty 14.7% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$60,517
Median household income
Education F
24.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.1x
Home value $245,600 vs income
Commute D
27 min
Average commute time
Rent F
$1,749/mo
2BR fair market rent (35% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$20,296/yr
Center-based infant care (34% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$60,517
▼ 2% vs national
Per Capita Income
$34,103
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Poverty Rate
14.7%

Housing

Median Home Value
$245,600
▼ 11% vs national
Median Rent
$1,175/mo
Owner Occupied
53.8%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,749/mo
▲ 46% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,206
1BR
$1,410
2BR
$1,749
3BR
$2,247
4BR
$2,637

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
24.0%
▼ 6 ppt vs national
High School+
57.2%
Median Age
35.8
Avg. Commute
27 min
▲ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$20,296/yr
34% of income
Toddler (Center)
$18,200/yr
Preschool (Center)
$14,820/yr
School-Age (Center)
$10,920/yr

What This Means

Gilbertville, MA receives an overall affordability grade of F (36/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 1,308. Challenges include education and housing and rent and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Gilbertville, MA affordable?
Gilbertville, MA receives an overall affordability grade of F (36/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $60,517. Median home value is $245,600.
What is the cost of living in Gilbertville?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,175/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,749/mo. Infant childcare $20,296/yr. Median home value $245,600.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →