Our South Berkshire Community

South Berkshire County is part of America’s Premier Cultural Resort.  We have theater and dance.  We have an abundance of natural resources – mountains, streams, ponds and lakes.  We have fresh air, hiking, biking. We have access to organic produce, farm-to-table restaurants and alternative and complementary health care practitioners. 

South Berkshire County has an abundance of resources in the form of caring individuals, service organizations, a critical access hospital, a federally qualified community health center, and a free volunteer clinic to meet the health care needs of our residents.

According to the Robert Wood Johnson County Rankings, Berkshire County ranks #5 out of 14 in clinical care, and #12 out of 14 in health outcomes.

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Families in poverty

• 20% or more of the population in parts of Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Sheffield. (Community Commons map)

• 5% to 20% of the population in parts of New Marlborough, Monterey, Tyringham, Great Barrington, Stockbridge and Lee. (Community Commons map)

• ​Largest cohort - between $25,000 - $50,000 (often the working poor); more people making under $25,000/year than $150,000/year. (BRPC)

• ​8.3% of individuals and 4.5% of families. (BRPC)

• ​62% families living paycheck to paycheck (BCAC)

• ​38% of population had difficulty putting food on the table (Western Mass Food Bank)

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Edu8cation.

• The percent of students economically disadvantaged ranges from 30% -44%. (school websites)

• The percent of students whose first language is not English is 4%-7%. (school websites)

• Students identified with High Needs is 40%-45%, (school websites)