Berkshire County, Massachusetts Demographics 2026

Name: Berkshire County, Massachusetts Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Berkshire County, Massachusetts has a population of 129,430, the 11th most populous county in Massachusetts. The median household income is $76,013 and the median home value is $305,400. The poverty rate is 11.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Berkshire County Quick Facts

Population 129,430

Median Household Income $76,013

Median Home Value $305,400

Poverty Rate 11.4%

Unemployment Rate 5.4%

Median Age 47.3 years

Homeownership Rate 69.9%

Affordability Ratio 4.0x

Bachelor's Degree+ 40.0%

High School Graduation 94.1%

Cities/Places 10

Population 129,430 11th of 14

Median Income $76,013 27% lower than state

Poverty Rate 11.4%

Unemployment 5.4%

How Berkshire County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	128,047	129,430	+1.1%
Median household income	$72,565	$76,013	+4.8%
Median home value	$283,800	$305,400	+7.6%

Median Household Income

Berkshire

$76,013

$103,960

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Berkshire

$305,400

$562,100

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.4%

$25K-$50K 17.7%

$50K-$100K 28.4%

$100K+ 37.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.9%

$10K-$15K

3.7%

$15K-$20K

4.2%

$20K-$25K

3.7%

$25K-$30K

3.9%

$30K-$35K

3.6%

$35K-$40K

3.7%

$40K-$45K

4.0%

$45K-$50K

2.5%

$50K-$60K

6.1%

$60K-$75K

9.2%

$75K-$100K

13.0%

$100K-$125K

9.4%

$125K-$150K

7.5%

$150K-$200K

8.4%

$200K+

12.2%

Employment

5.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1%|National: 5.2%

60.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 69.9%

Renter 30.1%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.0x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,097/mo 17.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

16.0%

18-34

20.3%

35-54

22.9%

55-74

30.2%

75+

10.7%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 53 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Berkshire County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Pittsfield	43,457	$70,582	14.9%	$256,900
North Adams	12,606	$47,500	18.6%	$195,900
Adams	5,427	$48,775	15.1%	$197,400
Williamstown	5,070	$97,917	18.0%	$439,300
Great Barrington	2,331	$64,506	12.9%	$524,700
Lenox	1,866	$61,335	11.3%	$410,700
Lee	1,511	$70,724	11.3%	$300,500
Housatonic	1,113	N/A	16.8%	$437,000
Cheshire	674	N/A	17.8%	N/A
Lenox Dale	29	N/A	100.0%	N/A

Explore Massachusetts Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Berkshire County is located in Massachusetts with a total population of 129,430. It is the 11th most populous county out of 14 in Massachusetts. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Berkshire County is 47.3 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 40.0 years. 10.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Berkshire County is $76,013. This is 27% lower than the state median of $103,960. It is also 6% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.4%. This is 14% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $305,400. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $562,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 69.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 62.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Berkshire County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.9%. The Black or African American population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 6.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.9%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Asian population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 7.2%.

Education

40.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 47.3%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.1%. Notably, 18.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Berkshire County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Massachusetts and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Berkshire County, Massachusetts?

Berkshire County has a population of 129,430, making it the 11th most populous county in Massachusetts.

What is the median income in Berkshire County?

The median household income in Berkshire County is $76,013 with a poverty rate of 11.4%.

How many cities are in Berkshire County, Massachusetts?

Berkshire County contains 10 Census-designated places.