County · Massachusetts

Berkshire County, Massachusetts

Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Berkshire County had 128,224 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.6% since 2020, while Massachusetts grew 1.7%. It holds 40 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs, 30 towns and townships and 8 census-designated) and 40 census tracts. GEOID 25003.

Berkshire County is the county of the Pittsfield, MA metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

128,224

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 129,026 · ACS 2020-2024: 129,430

Median household income

$76,013

±$3,051 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960

Median home value

$305,400

±$9,204 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100

Median gross rent

$1,097

±$42 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762

How many people live in Berkshire County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 129,026 residents in Berkshire County. The Census Bureau estimates 128,224 for July 1, 2025, down 0.6% since 2020, while Massachusetts grew 1.7%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 129,430 over 927 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +409 (130,225)
2021→2022 −633 (129,592)
2022→2023 −566 (129,026)
2023→2024 +23 (129,049)
2024→2025 −825 (128,224)

Berkshire County in Massachusetts. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Berkshire County	Massachusetts	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	129,430	7,044,056	+3,005
Households	57,585±622	2,785,042	+2,772
Average household size	2.14±0.02	2.44	−0.04
Housing units	70,004±96	3,030,406	+925

Berkshire County's population since 2000

From 134,953 in 2000 to 128,224 in 2025: down 5.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 134,953
2005 (estimate) 132,563
2010 Census 131,219
2015 (estimate) 127,950
2020 Census 129,026
2025 (estimate) 128,224

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Berkshire County?

Berkshire County holds 40 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 30 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 8 census-designated places. The largest is Pittsfield with 42,909 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Berkshire County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Pittsfield	city	43,927	43,457±34	$70,582	$256,900	14.9%	100%
North Adams	city	12,961	12,606±27	$47,500	$195,900	18.6%	100%
Adams	town	8,166	8,074±19	$58,929	$209,900	13.2%	100%
Williamstown	town	7,513	9,150±37	$106,650	$437,100	11.2%	100%
Great Barrington	town	7,172	7,202±19	$84,132	$494,300	9.2%	100%
Dalton	town	6,330	6,256±30	$79,438	$295,700	7.4%	100%
Lee	town	5,788	5,719±37	$83,750	$352,700	7.2%	100%
Adams CDP	CDP	5,466	5,427±366	$48,775	$197,400	15.1%	100%
Lenox	town	5,095	5,079±14	$106,080	$466,700	8.5%	100%
Williamstown CDP	CDP	4,308	5,070±484	$97,917	$439,300	18.0%	100%
Sheffield	town	3,327	3,330±16	$92,120	$409,400	6.4%	100%
Cheshire	town	3,258	3,216±26	$69,803	$268,200	8.6%	100%
Lanesborough	town	3,038	3,028±25	$86,219	$299,400	5.6%	100%
Great Barrington CDP	CDP	2,234	2,331±424	$64,506	$524,700	12.9%	100%
Stockbridge	town	2,018	2,056±296	$146,250	$600,000	7.2%	100%
Becket	town	1,931	1,962±285	$80,417	$361,000	12.1%	100%
Hinsdale	town	1,919	1,859±248	$77,845	$267,600	3.1%	100%
Lee CDP	CDP	1,880	1,511±299	$70,724	$300,500	11.3%	100%
Clarksburg	town	1,657	1,667±209	$77,143	$239,900	4.0%	100%
Lenox CDP	CDP	1,639	1,866±457	$61,335	$410,700	11.3%	100%
Otis	town	1,634	1,624±267	$108,898	$396,700	1.2%	100%
New Marlborough	town	1,528	1,501±228	$117,188	$608,300	2.5%	100%
Richmond	town	1,407	1,403±186	$106,250	$584,500	7.3%	100%
Egremont	town	1,372	1,230±294	$101,458	$664,900	8.0%	100%
West Stockbridge	town	1,343	1,250±178	$107,083	$535,700	7.7%	100%
MontereyGEOID 2500342460	town	1,095	954±192	$152,353	$603,200	4.1%	100%
Housatonic	CDP	1,083	1,113±290	not published	$437,000	16.8%	100%
Sandisfield	town	989	994±171	$91,111	$360,300	3.2%	100%
Windsor	town	831	1,065±209	$115,563	$389,700	3.8%	100%
Peru	town	814	630±86	$90,750	$267,400	3.2%	100%
Hancock	town	757	752±118	$96,250	$375,500	10.6%	100%
Florida	town	694	668±90	$86,875	$246,800	5.8%	100%
Savoy	town	645	795±136	$61,328	$285,200	12.7%	100%
Cheshire CDPGEOID 2513310	CDP	545	674±227	not published	not published	17.8%	100%
Washington	town	494	526±116	$95,278	$370,700	2.7%	100%
Alford	town	486	433±77	$121,042	$794,400	2.3%	100%
Lenox DaleGEOID 2535040	CDP	466	29±14	not published	not published	100.0%	100%
Tyringham	town	427	494±91	$163,333	$699,400	3.6%	100%
New Ashford	town	250	257±64	$102,188	$390,700	5.8%	100%
Mount Washington	town	160	193±56	$142,500	$714,300	2.1%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Berkshire County?

The median resident of Berkshire County is 47.3 years old; 16.0% are under 18 and 25.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.9%. 6.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Berkshire County	Massachusetts	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	47.3±0.3	40.0	no clear change
Under 18 years	16.0%	19.4%	–
65 years and over	25.0%±0.1 pts	17.9%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	5.9%	13.3%	+1.2 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	84.8%±0.3 pts	66.6%	−3.3 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	2.6%±0.3 pts	6.4%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.9%±0.2 pts	7.3%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	4.3%±0.5 pts	5.1%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.2 pts	1.2%	–
Born outside the United States	6.2%±0.7 pts	18.0%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	8.1%±0.6 pts	25.1%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	5.9%±0.5 pts	4.3%	–
With a disability	16.0%±0.9 pts	12.3%	–
No health insurance coverage	1.7%±0.4 pts	2.6%	−1.3 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	94.1%±0.7 pts	91.4%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	40.0%±1.4 pts	47.3%	+6.4 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	18.7%±0.9 pts	21.8%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	3.5%±0.6 pts	2.2%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Berkshire County earn?

Half of Berkshire County's 57,585 households earn less than $76,013 a year (±$3,051), against $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $72,894 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.4% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Berkshire County	Massachusetts	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$76,013±$3,051	$103,960	no clear change
Mean household income	$108,456±$5,093	$144,950	–
Per capita income	$49,365±$2,153	$57,897	+$5,533
People below the poverty line	11.4%±1.1 pts	10.0%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	16.0%±3.3 pts	11.7%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	16.5%±1.1 pts	14.7%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	90.3%±1.1 pts	92.8%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Berkshire County?

Owners occupy 69.9% of Berkshire County's occupied homes and renters 30.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $305,400 by its owner (±$9,204). The median renter pays $1,097 a month including utilities, and 43.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Berkshire County	Massachusetts	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$305,400±$9,204	$562,100	+$39,447
Median gross rent	$1,097±$42	$1,762	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	43.6%±3.5 pts	41.8%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,816±$41	$2,726	–
Owner-occupied homes	69.9%±1.5 pts	62.5%	no clear change
Housing units	70,004±96	3,030,406	+925
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.6%±0.3 pts	0.6%	–
Rental vacancy rate	3.0%±1.3 pts	3.5%	–
Single-family detached homes	65.6%±1.3 pts	51.1%	–
Mobile homes	1.4%±0.3 pts	0.8%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.6%±0.3 pts	1.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	35.5%±1.2 pts	30.5%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Berkshire County building?

Builders took permits for 149 new housing units across Berkshire County in 2025 (93 single-family), 1.2 per 1,000 residents.

2019 276 units
2020 211 units
2021 193 units
2022 126 units
2023 145 units
2024 127 units
2025 149 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Berkshire County get to work?

71.2% of Berkshire County's workers drive alone and 14.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Berkshire County	Massachusetts	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	60.5%±1.0 pts	67.0%	–
Unemployment rate	5.4%±0.7 pts	5.2%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	71.2%±1.8 pts	61.2%	–
Carpooled	7.1%±0.9 pts	7.0%	–
Public transportation	1.5%±0.4 pts	6.5%	–
Walked	4.8%±0.7 pts	4.1%	–
Worked from home	14.2%±1.3 pts	18.6%	+8.3 pts
Mean travel time to work	21.2 min±0.7	29.1 min	+1.4 min

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Berkshire County's census tracts?

Berkshire County is divided into 40 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $33,173 (Tract 9001) to $156,250 (Tract 9332).

All 40 census tracts of Berkshire County, with their figures

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Berkshire County compare with Massachusetts's other counties?

Berkshire County's rank among Massachusetts's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	11th of 14
Growth 2020-2025	13th of 14
Residents per square mile	13th of 14
Median household income	12th of 14
Median home value	13th of 14
Median gross rent	14th of 14
Poverty rate	4th of 14
Bachelor's degree or higher	11th of 14
Median age	3rd of 14

Every county in Massachusetts

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Berkshire County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.