The Town FilesBerkley, Massachusetts
Town in Bristol County · population 6,764 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $511,200
- Household income
- $144,205
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 43.4
Berkley is a town of 6,764 people in Bristol County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $511,200, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for families than 99% of Massachusetts towns, easier by car than 97% of Massachusetts towns, more of a college town than 81% of Massachusetts towns.
How Berkley ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Berkley is worth $511,200, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $144,205, which is more affordable than 91% of Massachusetts towns. 96.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Berkley | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $511,200 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | — | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $144,205 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 96.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Berkley
| People | Berkley | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.6% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.1% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 93.9% |
Weather in Berkley
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 19.1°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.7 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Berkley since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. The strongest, an F0, struck on September 7, 1958 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 7, 1958.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Bristol County since 1996
Bristol County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4780: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Bristol County
Bristol County had 227,971 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,669 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Berkley itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Berkley
4 public schools with 2,020 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph H Martin | 5-7 | 648 | 14.4 |
| East Taunton Elementary | PK-4 | 536 | 12.2 |
| Berkley Community School | PK-4 | 471 | 12.7 |
| Berkley Middle School | 5-8 | 365 | 12.2 |
Towns near Berkley
- Dighton, MA3.9 mi · 8,101 people · home $501,900
- Taunton, MA4.6 mi · 59,408 people · home $422,800
- Freetown, MA5.0 mi · 9,206 people · home $518,200
- Lakeville, MA6.2 mi · 11,523 people · home $565,900
- Raynham Center, MA6.6 mi · 4,365 people · home $547,700
- Raynham, MA6.6 mi · 15,142 people · home $524,400
- North Lakeville, MA7.3 mi · 3,290 people · home $543,300
- Fall River, MA7.8 mi · 94,000 people · home $395,500
Berkley questions
Is Berkley, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Berkley scores better for retirees than 10% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 66%. 15.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Berkley?
The median owner-occupied home in Berkley is valued at $511,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $144,205, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Berkley?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 19.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 25.7 inches of snow.
Does Berkley get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Berkley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on September 7, 1958. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)