HomeMassachusettsBerkshire County
Berkshire County, Massachusetts: commercial real estate data.
Berkshire County, Massachusetts had an estimated 128,726 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 129,028, across 927 square miles. County output reached $9.17 bn in 2024, 3,749 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 155 7(a) approvals worth $50.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Berkshire County
How many people live in Berkshire County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024129,430
- Households57,585
- Average household size2.25
- Median household income$76,013
- Median age47.3
- Median gross rent$1,097 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$305,400
- Home value to household income4.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher40.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree18.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over96,087
- Population under 1820,662
- Share under 1816.0 percent
- Population 65 and over32,417
- Share 65 and over25.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6476,351
- Civilian labor force67,495
- Unemployment rate5.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.1 percent
- Rank by population among Massachusetts counties11th of 14
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included510th of 3,222
Berkshire County is the 11th largest of 14 Massachusetts counties by population. A median home costs 4.0 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 25.0 percent against 16.0 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Berkshire County
Is Berkshire County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024128,726
- Census 2020 base population129,028
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.23 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-137
- Births, 2024814
- Deaths, 20241,682
- Natural change, 2024-868
- Net domestic migration, 2024196
- Net international migration, 2024538
- Total net migration, 2024734
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024861
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1925th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.23 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Berkshire County
Where are people moving to Berkshire County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,194
- People arriving, from those returns3,384
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,462
- Net household movement-268
- Adjusted gross income arriving$269.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$30.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$122,669
- Average income of a leaving household$96,826
- Largest single originHampden County (100 households)
- Largest single destinationHampden County (130 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampden County | 100 | 157 | $4.9 m |
| Middlesex County | 95 | 158 | $13.0 m |
| New York County | 90 | 146 | $28.7 m |
| Suffolk County | 82 | 130 | $10.9 m |
| Hampshire County | 59 | 81 | $3.9 m |
| Worcester County | 55 | 82 | $4.7 m |
| Bennington County | 53 | 82 | $3.4 m |
| Northwest Hills Planning Region | 52 | 73 | $3.5 m |
Households arriving report $25,843 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Hampden County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Berkshire County
What is the Berkshire County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$9.17 bn
- County GDP, 2023$8.79 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.2 percent
- GDP change over five years25.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Massachusetts areas BEA publishes11th of 14
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes475th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$70,812
Output grew 4.2 percent in the latest year and 25.9 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Berkshire County
Employment by industry in Berkshire County
- Covered employment, annual average57,946
- Establishments reporting5,475
- Average annual pay$62,257
- Average weekly wage$1,197
- Health care and social assistance, employment12,092
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$65,619
- Retail trade, employment7,212
- Retail trade, average annual pay$40,300
- Accommodation and food services, employment6,560
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$31,285
- Manufacturing, employment3,298
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$75,896
- Educational services, employment3,001
- Construction, employment2,871
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 12,092 | 1,456 | $65,619 |
| Retail trade | 7,212 | 548 | $40,300 |
| Accommodation and food services | 6,560 | 444 | $31,285 |
| Manufacturing | 3,298 | 139 | $75,896 |
| Educational services | 3,001 | 92 | $68,029 |
| Construction | 2,871 | 522 | $72,941 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,757 | 503 | $108,012 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 2,244 | 290 | $57,697 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 12,092 jobs, 20.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Berkshire County
How many businesses are in Berkshire County?
- Establishments, all industries3,749
- Employment at those establishments50,051
- Annual payroll$2.86 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents29.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Berkshire County
Building permits in Berkshire County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024127
- Declared construction value permitted$67.5 m
- Single family units authorized108
- Multifamily units authorized19
- Multifamily share of units15.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$531,802
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.2
Single-family homes are 85.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Berkshire County
SBA loans in Berkshire County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded155
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$50.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$322,743
- Median 7(a) approval$93,000
- 10th percentile approval$21,000
- 90th percentile approval$814,840
- Largest single approval$4,600,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,279
- Jobs per approval8.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active31
- Distinct industries receiving approvals83
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer14.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms23
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter130
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals0.6 percent
- Most active lenderLee Bank (24)
- 504 approvals recorded111
- 504 gross approval dollars$80.1 m
- Average 504 approval$721,604
- Median 504 approval$339,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval5.9
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved8.1
- Most active CDCGranite State Economic Development Corporation (50)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$130.1 m
The average approval of $322,743 sits well above the median of $93,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 14.8 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Berkshire County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Berkshire County
Do SBA loans in Berkshire County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded29
- Paid in full28
- Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled24
- Status: Exempt from disclosure100
- Status: Paid in full28
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 29 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Berkshire County
SBA lending by place in Berkshire County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending25
- Pittsfield, approvals39
- Great Barrington, approvals19
- Lee, approvals16
- Williamstown, approvals12
- Lenox, approvals10
- North Adams, approvals10
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield | 39 | $9,159,000 |
| Great Barrington | 19 | $7,761,100 |
| Lee | 16 | $10,552,600 |
| Williamstown | 12 | $3,196,500 |
| Lenox | 10 | $7,870,100 |
| North Adams | 10 | $1,370,700 |
| Dalton | 9 | $1,712,500 |
| Adams | 6 | $2,393,800 |
| 17 other borrower cities | 34 | $6,008,900 |
Pittsfield accounts for 39 approvals against 19 in Great Barrington. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Berkshire County
How large is Berkshire County?
- Land area927 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Massachusetts counties2nd of 14
- Width, east to west28.6 mi
- Height, north to south48.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land140
- Establishments per square mile4.04
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Berkshire County
Flood risk in Berkshire County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book31
- Of those, participating in the NFIP27
- NFIP participation rate87.1 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Berkshire County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Berkshire County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 87.1 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Berkshire County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Berkshire County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024129,430
- Households57,585
- Average household size2.25
- Median household income$76,013
- Median age47.3
Common questions
Berkshire County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Berkshire County, Massachusetts?
The Census Bureau estimates 128,726 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 129,430, in 57,585 households, ranking 11th of 14 Massachusetts counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Berkshire County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.23 percent since the 2020 census base of 129,028, to 128,726 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 814 births against 1,682 deaths, with net migration of 734. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Berkshire County?
$76,013. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $305,400, which is 4.0 times income, and median gross rent is $1,097 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Berkshire County?
3,749 establishments, employing 50,051 people with an annual payroll of $2.86 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Berkshire County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 12,092 jobs, 20.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 57,946 jobs at an average annual pay of $62,257, or $1,197 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Berkshire County?
155 7(a) approvals totaling $50.0 m since FY2020, across 31 lenders, with a median approval of $93,000, plus 111 504 approvals worth $80.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Berkshire County?
127 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $67.5 m. Multifamily was 15.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Berkshire County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Berkshire County come from?
The largest single origin is Hampden County, with 100 households. Arriving households report an average income of $122,669 against $96,826 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Berkshire County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Berkshire County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Berkshire County
Cities and places in Berkshire.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Berkshire County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield | city | 43,457 | 39 | Wholly in this county |
| North Adams | city | 12,606 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Adams | CDP | 5,427 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Williamstown | CDP | 5,070 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Great Barrington | CDP | 2,331 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| Lenox | CDP | 1,866 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Lee | CDP | 1,511 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Housatonic | CDP | 1,113 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Cheshire | CDP | 674 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lenox Dale | CDP | 29 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 37 of the county's 155 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Berkshire County, the largest being Dalton (9), Lanesborough (5), West Stockbridge (4). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.