Berkshire County, MA

County

Add Comparison

Population

127,328

0.331% 1-year decline

US Senator

Elizabeth Warren

Democratic Party

US Senator

Ed Markey

Democratic Party

Median Age

46.7

Poverty Rate

11.4%

Median Household Income

$56,674

2.69% 1-year growth

Median Property Value

$208,500

2.56% 1-year growth

Number of Employees

64,233

0.447% 1-year growth

About

In 2018, Berkshire County, MA had a population of 127k people with a median age of 46.7 and a median household income of $56,674. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Berkshire County, MA declined from 127,751 to 127,328, a -0.331% decrease and its median household income grew from $55,190 to $56,674, a 2.69% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Berkshire County, MA are White (Non-Hispanic) (88.5%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (2.74%), White (Hispanic) (2.31%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (1.99%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.7%). NaNk% of the people in Berkshire County, MA speak a non-English language, and 97.1% are U.S. citizens.

In 2018, the median property value in Berkshire County, MA was $208,500, and the homeownership rate was 68.9%. Most people in Berkshire County, MA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 18.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Berkshire County, MA was 2 cars per household.

Berkshire County, MA borders Litchfield County, CT, Hampshire County, MA, Franklin County, MA, Hampden County, MA, Columbia County, NY, Dutchess County, NY, Rensselaer County, NY, and Bennington County, VT.

About the photo: View from Bash Bish Falls

Photo by David Sunshine

United States Massachusetts Pittsfield, MA

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Massachusetts. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Massachusetts, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Massachusetts (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

Start Year

Y-Axis

-5.78%

Year-over-year decline

Employment change between November 2019 and November 2020

As of November 2020, there are 145M people employed in Massachusetts. This represents a -5.78% decrease in employment when compared to November 2019.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Massachusetts.

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Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Massachusetts across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Civics

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Berkshire County, MA went to Hillary Rodham Clinton with 67.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (26%), followed by Other (6.56%). The most partisan county was Suffolk County, MA with 79.6% of the vote going to Hillary Rodham Clinton running for the Democratic Party.

Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are the senators currently representing the state of Massachusetts. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Massachusetts is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

2016 Election Results

Hillary Rodham Clinton (67.5%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (26%)
Republican Party
Other (6.56%)
Other Party

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Massachusetts went to Hillary Rodham Clinton with 67.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (26%), followed by Other (6.56%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Massachusetts for each registered party from 1976 to 2016.

Presidential Popular Vote by County

Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of Massachusetts.

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Popular Vote for Berkshire County, MA

67.5% for the Democratic Party

Most Partisan Counties in Massachusetts

Suffolk County, MA
79.6% for Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democratic Party)
Dukes County, MA
73% for Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democratic Party)
Berkshire County, MA
67.5% for Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democratic Party)

In the 2016 presidential election, the most partisan county in Massachusetts was Suffolk County, MA with 79.6% of the vote going to Hillary Rodham Clinton running for the Democratic Party.

The following map shows the counties in Massachusetts colored by their party leaning.

US Senators from Massachusetts

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

Elizabeth Warren

Senator from Massachusetts

Assumed office on January 3, 2013

Ed Markey

Senator from Massachusetts

Assumed office on July 16, 2013
Elected to the seat to succeed Mo Cowan, who had been appointed to replace John Kerry, who had become Secretary of State.

Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are the senators currently representing Massachusetts.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Massachusetts over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives from Massachusetts

Massachusetts is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Massachusetts have changed over time starting in 2008.

Diversity

Berkshire County, MA is home to a population of 127k people, from which 97.1% are citizens. As of 2018, 6.49% of Berkshire County, MA residents were born outside of the country (8.26k people).

In 2018, there were 32.3 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (113k people) in Berkshire County, MA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 3.49k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 2.94k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Berkshire County, MA

White (Non-Hispanic)
113k ± 304
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
3.49k ± 389
White (Hispanic)
2.94k ± 455

4.59%

Hispanic Population

5.84k people

4.59% of the people in Berkshire County, MA are hispanic (5.84k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Berkshire County, MA as a share of the total population.

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

6.49%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

8.26k people

5.99%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

7.65k people

As of 2018, 6.49% of Berkshire County, MA residents (8.26k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2017, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Berkshire County, MA was 5.99%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Berkshire County, MA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.3

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 2.1

In 2018, the median age of all people in Berkshire County, MA was 46.7. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 47, were generally older than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 44. But people in Berkshire County, MA are getting getting older. In 2017, the average age of all Berkshire County, MA residents was 47.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Massachusetts.

Most Common Origin

China
96,127 ± 7,558 people
Dominican Republic
89,373 ± 7,292 people
Brazil
77,815 ± 6,810 people

In 2019, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Massachusetts was China, the natal country of 96,127 Massachusetts residents, followed by Dominican Republic with 89,373 and Brazil with 77,815.

Citizenship

97.1%

2018 Citizenship

97.2%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 97.1% of Berkshire County, MA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Berkshire County, MA was 97.2%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Berkshire County, MA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
3,229 ± 263
Korea
1,017 ± 155
Gulf War (2001-)
943 ± 314

Berkshire County, MA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 3.18 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

Median household income in Berkshire County, MA is $56,674. In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Berkshire County, MA was Census Tract 9201.02 with a value of $86,765, followed by Census Tract 9351 and Census Tract 9008, with respective values of $82,604 and $82,308.

Males in Massachusetts have an average income that is 1.33 times higher than the average income of females, which is $67,290. The income inequality in Massachusetts (measured using the Gini index) is 0.483, which is higher than than the national average.

The economy of Berkshire County, MA employs 64.2k people. The largest industries in Berkshire County, MA are Health Care & Social Assistance (11,135 people), Educational Services (8,894 people), and Retail Trade (7,437 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($74,141), Public Administration ($55,519), and Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($54,143).

Wages

Median Household Income

$56,674

2018 value

± $1,559

2.69%

1 Year Growth

± 3.58%

Households in Berkshire County, MA have a median annual income of $56,674, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $55,190 in 2017, which represents a 2.69% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Berkshire County, MA compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Massachusetts.

$89,585

Average Male Salary in Massachusetts

± $1,887

$67,290

Average Female Salary in Massachusetts

± $1,359

In 2019, full-time male employees in Massachusetts made 1.33 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Massachusetts by number of full-time employees.

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Massachusetts.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in Massachusetts

Asian
$75,473 ± $4,254
White
$69,510 ± $1,187
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
$57,778 ± $35,604

In 2019 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Massachusetts workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.09 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in Massachusetts.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Massachusetts by number of full-time employees.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Berkshire County, MA is from Massachusetts.

0.483

2019 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

0.485

2018 Wage GINI in Massachusetts

In 2019, the income inequality in Massachusetts was 0.483 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.424% decline from 2018 to 2019, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Massachusetts was higher than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in Massachusetts in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Massachusetts across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9201.02
Census Tract 9351
Census Tract 9008

In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Berkshire County, MA was Census Tract 9201.02 with a value of $86,765, followed by Census Tract 9351 and Census Tract 9008, with respective values of $82,604 and $82,308.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Berkshire County, MA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

11.4% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Berkshire County, MA (13.8k out of 121k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 45 - 54 and then Females 55 - 64.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

White
10,947 ± 735
Hispanic
1,534 ± 281
Black
1,062 ± 311

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Berkshire County, MA is White, followed by Hispanic and Black.

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

64.2k

2018 Value

± 1,628

0.447%

1 Year growth

± 3.56%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Berkshire County, MA grew at a rate of 0.447%, from 63.9k employees to 64.2k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Berkshire County, MA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (7,684 people), Sales & Related Occupations (6,005 people), and Management Occupations (5,913 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Berkshire County, MA.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Berkshire County, MA, by number of employees, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (7,684 people), Sales & Related Occupations (6,005 people), and Management Occupations (5,913 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Berkshire County, MA has an unusually high number of residents working as Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (1.41 times higher than expected), Personal Care & Service Occupations (1.35 times), and Healthcare Support Occupations (1.33 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Berkshire County, MA, by median earnings, are Legal Occupations ($85,000), Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($78,864), and Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($74,813).

Industries

Employment by Industries

64.2k

2018 Value

± 1,628

0.447%

1 Year growth

± 3.56%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Berkshire County, MA grew at a rate of 0.447%, from 63.9k employees to 64.2k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Berkshire County, MA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (11,135 people), Educational Services (8,894 people), and Retail Trade (7,437 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Berkshire County, MA, though some of these residents may live in Berkshire County, MA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Most Common

The most common industries in Berkshire County, MA, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (11,135 people), Educational Services (8,894 people), and Retail Trade (7,437 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Berkshire County, MA has an unusually high number of Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation (1.52 times higher than expected), Educational Services (1.5 times), and Health Care & Social Assistance (1.25 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Berkshire County, MA, by median earnings, are Utilities ($74,141), Public Administration ($55,519), and Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($54,143).

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Massachusetts to other states, or from other states to Massachusetts.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

Gasoline
$31.5B
Mixed freight
$27.2B
Electronics
$24.1B

In 2015, the top outbound Massachusetts product (by dollars) was Gasoline with $31.5B, followed by Mixed freight ($27.2B) and Electronics ($24.1B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Massachusetts products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Massachusetts.

$240B

2015 Value in Massachusetts

$364B

Projected 2045 Value in Massachusetts

51.4% growth

In 2015, total outbound Massachusetts trade was $240B. This is expected to increase 51.4% to $364B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Massachusetts trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Massachusetts to other states, or from other states to Massachusetts.

Most Common Trade Partners

New Hampshire
$13.2B
New York
$13.2B
Connecticut
$12.7B

In 2015, the top outbound Massachusetts domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was New Hampshire with $13.2B, followed by New York with $13.2B and Connecticut and $12.7B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Massachusetts shares with each state (excluding itself).

Housing & Living

The median property value in Berkshire County, MA was $208,500 in 2018, which is 0.908 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $203,300 to $208,500, a 2.56% increase. The homeownership rate in Berkshire County, MA is 68.9%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Berkshire County, MA have an average commute time of 18.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Berkshire County, MA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$208,500

2018 Median

± $6,381

$203,300

2017 Median

± $5,036

In 2018, the median property value in Berkshire County, MA grew to to $208,500 from the previous year's value of $203,300.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Berkshire County, MA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Berkshire County, MA the largest share of households have a property value in the N/A range.

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$56,674

Median Household Income

± $1,559

55.2k

Number of Households

± 1,460

In 2018, the median household income of the 55.2k households in Berkshire County, MA grew to $56,674 from the previous year's value of $55,190.

The following chart displays the households in Berkshire County, MA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Property Taxes

$3k+

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Berkshire County, MA distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Berkshire County, MA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

Rent vs Own

68.9%

2018 Homeownership

69%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 68.9% of the housing units in Berkshire County, MA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 69%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Berkshire County, MA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Commute Time

18.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Berkshire County, MA have a shorter commute time (18.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.3 minutes). Additionally, 1.89% of the workforce in Berkshire County, MA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Berkshire County, MA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2018

Drove Alone (77.5%)
Carpooled (7.85%)
Walked (6.02%)

In 2018, 77.5% of workers in Berkshire County, MA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (7.85%) and those who walked to work (6.02%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Berkshire County, MA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Berkshire County, MA have 2 cars, followed by 1 car.

Health

97% of the population of Berkshire County, MA has health coverage, with 45.3% on employee plans, 21.1% on Medicaid, 15.1% on Medicare, 14.9% on non-group plans, and 0.778% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Massachusetts was $10,559 in 2014. This is a 2.78% increase from the previous year ($10,273).

Primary care physicians in Berkshire County, MA see 888 patients per year on average, which represents a 3.37% decrease from the previous year (919 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1186 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 131 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Bristol County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (11.4%). Additionally, Bristol County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (29.1%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

888 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Berkshire County, MA

Primary care physicians in Berkshire County, MA see an average of 888 patients per year. This represents a 3.37% decrease from the previous year (919 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Berkshire County, MA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
New Hampshire
7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
Louisiana
17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Massachusetts.

$10,559

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in Massachusetts

$5,302

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$8,922

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$11,899

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Massachusetts (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 2.78%, from $10,273 to $10,559.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

Health Care Coverage

2.95%

Uninsured

45.3%

Employer Coverage

21.1%

Medicaid

15.1%

Medicare

14.9%

Non-Group

0.778%

Military or VA

Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Berkshire County, MA grew by 1.9% from 2.9% to 2.95%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Berkshire County, MA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.