Berkshire County, Massachusetts Income Statistics
Berkshire County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Berkshire County Around averageAmong the 5 least wealthy counties in Massachusetts
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Berkshire County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $76,040 | $104,336 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $64,079 | $80,230 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 13.1% | 20.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 12.2% | 22.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Berkshire County is about 27% lower than in Massachusetts. Income has been growing slower in Berkshire County (4.7%/yr) than in Massachusetts (4.9%/yr).
About 13% of adults in Berkshire County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Massachusetts average of 21%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Berkshire County, Massachusetts grew by 51.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $76,040 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Berkshire County
| Metric | Berkshire County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.519 | 0.531 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $73,022 | $90,842 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $61,998 | $75,629 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.1% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Berkshire County, it is 0.519, lower than Massachusetts's 0.531, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 18% more than women's income in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $385,840 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Berkshire County, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 26% to 15% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,624 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Berkshire County | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.2% | 18.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 25 | 22 |
Approximately 3,618 people are unemployed in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
The average commute time in Berkshire County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 25 minutes in Massachusetts.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Berkshire County, Massachusetts has fallen from 8.4% to 5.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.8% in 2019.
Berkshire County, MA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Berkshire County, MA is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 129,358 residents against a local median of 160,332. Berkshire County, MA sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 13% below the local median at $76,040 against $87,740. Berkshire County, MA has the 5th highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire County, MA | 129,358 | $76,040 #5/6 | 4.7%/yr #1/6 | 5.4% #3/6 | 0.519 #3/6 |
| Columbia County, NY | 61,100 | $82,826 | 4.2%/yr | 5.4% | 0.535 |
| Rensselaer County, NY | 160,332 | $87,745 | 4.4%/yr | 5.3% | 0.509 |
| Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT | 104,183 | $95,230 | 3.3%/yr | 5.5% | 0.515 |
| Hampshire County, MA | 161,946 | $87,740 | 4.3%/yr | 5.0% | 0.567 |
| Hampden County, MA | 462,481 | $71,193 | 4.2%/yr | 6.0% | 0.546 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Berkshire County, Massachusetts has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Massachusetts, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
How Rich Is Berkshire County, Massachusetts?
Berkshire County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $76,040, about 27% lower than the Massachusetts average of $104,336.
How has median household income changed in Berkshire County, Massachusetts?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Berkshire County, Massachusetts rose 51%, from $50,297 to $76,040. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Massachusetts as a whole: +51% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Berkshire County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Berkshire County, Massachusetts was $72,704, up 3% from $70,497 in 2022. The Massachusetts median that year was $101,513.
What was the median household income in Berkshire County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Berkshire County, Massachusetts was $62,087. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $76,040.
What is the Gini coefficient in Berkshire County, Massachusetts?
The Gini coefficient in Berkshire County is 0.519. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Berkshire County, Massachusetts?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Berkshire County, Massachusetts has narrowed from about 26% to 15% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,624 since 2009.
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