With rolling hills divided by wide valleys and historic towns scattered throughout the region, the Berkshires is a both a geographic region and a cultural center—a bucolic haven with a sophisticated take on the arts and a serious commitment to culinary excellence.
You may have visited or vacationed in the Berkshires, but what’s it like to live there? If now is the time to buy a vacation home, a second home, or move to new primary residence, here’s what you need to know about relocating to the Berkshires.
Especially for buyers in Berkshire County, MA and Columbia County, NY, check out our Berkshires Home Buying Guide. It’s packed with essential information about the Berkshires, Berkshires recreation and culture, Berkshires schools, Berkshires health care, and more.
The Berkshires Has Land in Massachusetts and New York State
When people think “the Berkshires,” they may think Western Massachusetts. The most western county in Massachusetts, Berkshire County, definitely falls into the Berkshires, but parts of New York State do, too. Columbia County, NY, lies just on the other side of the New York-Massachusetts border and extends west to the Hudson River. The Berkshires encompasses both counties.
The largest city and county seat of Berkshire County is Pittsfield, located about 130 miles west of Boston. Hudson is the second-largest city and the county seat of Columbia County, which lies about 130 north of New York City.
The Berkshires Is a Mountainous Region
Geologically speaking, the Berkshires are part of the Appalachian Mountains. Hundreds of millions of years of erosion shaped the mountains into the rounded hills we see today. At 3,491 feet, Mount Greylock is the highest point in the Berkshires, but average elevations of the region are about 700 to 1,200 feet.
All of Berkshire County, MA, lies in the Berkshires, as does part of Columbia County, NY, along the New York-Massachusetts border. The Berkshires also includes parts of Franklin County, Hampden County, and Hampshire County, all located in Massachusetts.
Berkshire County is home to all 91 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts. Its highest point is at Mount Greylock. The trail extends through the towns of Cheshire and Dalton. The Western Massachusetts chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club maintains the trail and hosts year-round events in the area.
The Berkshires Offers Great Home Values
Check out our exclusive listings under $500K for great values in Berkshire and Columbia counties. You’ll find in-town locations, lakefront homes, land acreage, and homes with private roads. Develop a list of criteria for the home you want and our agents can help from home search to closing.
Berkshire Towns Boom with Culture
When people think of the Berkshires as a cultural region, what comes to mind are its town and cities—especially Stockbridge, Pittsfield, North Adams, Williamstown, Great Barrington, Lee, and Lenox.
Whether you love to shop for antiques, browse art galleries, or patronize the arts, you can find it in a town in the Berkshires. Towns like Sheffield and Great Barrington are popular antique centers. Art museums are major attractions in Stockbridge, Williamstown, and North Adams. The Norman Rockwell Museum preserves the world’s largest collection of Rockwell art in Stockbridge. The Clark Art Institute makes its home in Williamstown, the location of Williams College. The Clark houses a significant collection of French Impressionist art. Mass MoCA, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art located in North Adams, is one of the most exciting art museums in New England.
Lenox is known for Tanglewood, Shakespeare & Company, and the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Some of the oldest and most well-known arts institutions in the country are based in the Berkshire.
Leading arts and cultural attractions in Columbia County include the Mac-Haydn Theatre in Chatham and Olana, home of Hudson River School artist Frederic Church.
Farm-to-Table Food is the Norm
One of the hallmarks of culture is food. Gourmets, gourmands, and foodies of all stripes delight in the restaurants, growers, and artisans that make the Berkshires a culinary mecca.
Have a hankering for pasture-raised meats and charcuterie? Head to Red Apple Butchers in Pittsfield. Are you a cheese enthusiast? The Berkshires Cheese Trail will make your dairy dreams come true. And when it comes to beers, spirits, and wine, the Berkshires is making a splash with superior results.
Columbia County is no less a standout in the farm-to-table restaurant scene. Hudson is a farm-to-table hub with restaurants like the Hudson Food Studio and Swoon Kitchenbar.
Historically an agricultural economy, the Berkshires supports a thriving farm-to-table scene in the area. Many restaurants feature this as a selling point, and eating home-grown or locally-grown food is standard. You’ll also find many farmers’ markets and orchards in the Berkshires.
Health Care Standards Are High
Berkshire County leads the way in providing high-quality health care in the Berkshires. Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield and Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington are both part of Berkshire Health Systems, a top-rated and award-winning regional health care provider.
Columbia Memorial Health is a major health care provider in Columbia County, anchored by Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson. Its bone and joint centers in Hudson and Catskill are one of the most innovative orthopedic clinics in the country.
The Cost of Living Is Affordable
Homebuyers often think about taxes when they consider moving to a new address. One way to do that is by looking at the tax burden, which measures the total amount of income, property, and sales taxes an individual pays. A recent study showed that Berkshire County has the lowest tax burden of any county in Massachusetts. Get all the details in this report put out by SmartAsset, who conducted the study.
The Berkshires Offer Close Proximity to New York City and Boston
About two hours’ driving time will bring you from Boston to Lenox. Hudson in Columbia County, New York, is about 2 and a half hours driving from New York City.
Spring, summer, fall, and winter are beautiful times of the year to look for homes in the Berkshires.
Contact one of our offices in Great Barrington, MA; West Stockbridge, MA; or Chatham, NY, to get started!
