Cost of Living in Berkshire County, Massachusetts
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Berkshire County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Berkshire County ranks #2,599 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 17%)
Sourced county brief
Berkshire County Median Home Value Estimated at $305,400
The median home value in Berkshire County was $305,400 during the 2020-2024 period, which is $328,857 below the Massachusetts unweighted county mean of $634,257. Median gross rent was estimated at $1,097 per month, lower than the state unweighted county mean of $1,616. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in the county is 31.9%. This official GRAPI figure is 0.2 percentage points above the Massachusetts unweighted county mean of 31.7%. For homeowners, the median monthly owner cost was estimated at $1,396, whereas the state unweighted county mean was $2,087. The median income for renter households in Berkshire County was $39,718. These figures represent a snapshot from the ACS 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Berkshire County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.9% of renter household income in Berkshire County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,097 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,396. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $43,880 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Massachusetts unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,616 per month. Berkshire County's $1,097 median is 32.1% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Berkshire County
Rent Burden
17.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,774
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.0%
of gross income
The median home in Berkshire County may be a stretch
Median home value is $305,400. Estimated monthly cost: $2,438 vs. your max of $1,774.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Berkshire County, Massachusetts?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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