Homes for sale in Berkshire County, MA, are in high demand due to the influx of buyers brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Buyers in all age groups are looking to buy larger homes where families can gather, second homes for seasonal use, and primary residences where homeowners can work online from home.
Berkshire County might not be a well-kept secret anymore, buy it’s certainly well-kept, especially the town of Lenox. A Gilded Age gem where nature and culture converge and the high school sports team is called the Millionaires, Lenox is worth a long look if you’re looking for homes in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Here’s why you should buy a home in Lenox.
Wide Variety of Properties for Sale
Lenox offers a wide variety of homes for sale. Just a sampling of the types of Lenox properties for sale:
- Contemporary Colonials
- charming Victorians
- Craftsman-style homes
- Farmhouse-style homes
- Luxury estates
Location, Location, Location
Lenox is less than 140 miles from Boston and New York City and just 40 miles from Albany, which means that despite getting away from it all in “the wooden lanes of that loveliest region” (that’s writer and one-time Lenox resident Edith Wharton’s description of the Berkshires), it’s easy to stay connected to family and friends in the Northeast. Lenox sits just 10 miles north of the Massachusetts Turnpike/I-90. Route 20 forms a main transportation corridor through Lenox, making it easy to reach other Berkshire County communities. Many restaurants, art galleries, and businesses are clustered around Route 7A in downtown Lenox.
Access to Unparalleled Arts Venues
Ella Loudon and Nigel Gore in Twelfth Night produced by Shakespeare & Company in 2019. Photo by Daniel Rader.
A Beethoven concert at Tanglewood? A performance of Hamlet at Shakespeare & Company? An art exhibit at the Wit Gallery? Every night Lenox has competing cultural events.
People from all over the world come to the Berkshires to experience its vibrant arts scene. While some Lenox residents may complain about Tanglewood traffic in the summer, it’s a small trade-off for living in a country town with big-city venues and notes from Yo-Yo Ma’s cello drifting in your backyard.
Back to Nature
The Lenox region was once described as “a hideous, howling wilderness.” But the only howling you’ll hear these days is from elated fans when James Taylor takes the stage at Tanglewood. The area has some of the most scenic wilderness in the Northeast.
Located just to the east of Lenox, October Mountain State Forest is the largest state forest in Massachusetts. With 16,500 acres, it features hiking and walking paths, canoeing and kayaking, fishing and hunting, camping, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.
Outdoor enthusiasts will also enjoy Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. Its varied trails are designed for easy-to-strenuous hiking and wind through more than 1,000-acres of forests, meadows, and wetlands.
Top Community Services and Amenities
Downtown Lenox’s is a unique and picturesque place to walk, shop, and dine. Popular stores include Berkshire Classic, which carries leather handbags, wallets and jewelry; Colorful Stitches, a designer yarn shop; and J. McLaughlin, a classic American clothier.
Lenox Coffee, Haven Cafe and Bakery, and Church Street Cafe are great places to stop for breakfast and lunch. A walk down Church Street will lead you to many of Lenox’s best-known restaurants, including Nudel (Asian fusion), Alta Restaurant & Wine Bar, and Bistro Zinc (French).
The Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health offers a wide selection of programs and packages. “Explore the power of you” with yoga, Ayurveda, creative expression, and spiritual practice and meditation.
