Berkshire County
MA · Pop. 128,047 · Mixed County
Berkshire County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Massachusetts, spanning 927 square miles with 128,047 residents at a density of 138.1 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $284,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.37% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 141-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.9°F and average winter lows of 13.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 47.6 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Berkshire Med Ctr Inc - Berkshire Cam is 6.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 96.2% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 96.2% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Berkshire Med Ctr Inc - Berkshire Cam, with an emergency room, is just 6.3 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- Annual rainfall of 47.6 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
- A low poverty rate of 11% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A 141-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.37% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
- Average winter lows of 13.8°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
Berkshire County, MA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 37/100
- Median home price
- $284k
- Property tax
- 1.37%
- Growing season
- 141 days (zone 5b)
- Annual rainfall
- 47.6"
- Broadband
- 96.2%
- Nearest hospital
- Berkshire Med Ctr Inc - Berkshire Cam, 6.3 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Berkshire County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Berkshire County?
- Berkshire County is in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 141-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.9°F, and average winter lows of 13.8°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $284,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.37%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 96.2% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Berkshire Med Ctr Inc - Berkshire Cam is 6.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 4 hospitals in the county.
Explore Massachusetts Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
The largest listing site for rural property — farms, ranches, hunting land, and timberland.
AcreTrader
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More counties in Massachusetts
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The closest counties to Berkshire County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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