Cheshire, Massachusetts Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Cheshire, Massachusetts had a total population of 674, the 234th largest community in Massachusetts. The poverty rate is 17.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Cheshire Quick Facts
How Cheshire 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 | 584 | 674 | +15.4% |
How Cheshire Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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+)
Cheshire Rankings in Massachusetts
Explore Massachusetts Rankings
Other Cities 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 |
| Lenox Dale | 29 | N/A | 100.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Cheshire
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barre | 673 | $75,202 | $348,000 | 50.3% | 2.4% |
| Chester | 681 | $77,143 | $257,400 | 15.1% | 2.2% |
| New Seabury | 726 | $212,750 | $954,700 | 77.7% | 0.0% |
| West Warren | 613 | $66,921 | $284,500 | 37.9% | 4.4% |
| Popponesset | 563 | $102,357 | $720,900 | 71.2% | 7.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 674, Cheshire's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Cheshire is a small community located in Massachusetts, within Berkshire County. The total population is 674. It ranks as the 234th most populous out of 248 Census-designated places in Massachusetts.
Age Demographics
The median age in Cheshire is 60.2 years. This is 51% higher than the state median of 40.0 years. Only 13.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.
Economy, Income & Housing
The poverty rate stands at 17.8%. This is 77% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Cheshire, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 76.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 62.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Cheshire has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 99.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 13.3%.
Education
28.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% 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 96.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Cheshire, Massachusetts is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Massachusetts state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 248 Census-designated places in Massachusetts. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Massachusetts city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Cheshire, Massachusetts?
Cheshire, Massachusetts has a population of 674 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Cheshire, MA?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median household income estimate for Cheshire — the community is too small for the ACS sample. The national median is $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Cheshire, MA?
The poverty rate in Cheshire is 17.8%. This means approximately 120 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Cheshire, Massachusetts?
Cheshire's population is 99.9% White, 0.0% Black, 0.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Cheshire, MA?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Cheshire — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Cheshire, Massachusetts?
28.3% of adults (25+) in Cheshire hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.