The Town FilesCheshire, Massachusetts
Town in Berkshire County · population 3,258 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $268,200
- Household income
- $69,803
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 53.7
Cheshire is a town of 3,258 people in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $268,200, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Massachusetts towns, easier by car than 96% of Massachusetts towns, quieter than 92% of Massachusetts towns.
- #6 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Massachusetts
- #6 in The 19 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Massachusetts
- #8 in 25 Small Towns in Massachusetts With the Cheapest Homes
- #9 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Massachusetts
- #10 in The 17 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Massachusetts
How Cheshire 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 Cheshire is worth $268,200, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $69,803, which is more affordable than 81% of Massachusetts towns. 89.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cheshire | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $268,200 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | — | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $69,803 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 89.0% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.1% | — |
Who lives in Cheshire
| People | Cheshire | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.7 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.9% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 93.9% |
Weather in Cheshire
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 14.3°F. About 42.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 75.9 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cheshire since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 13, 1975 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Berkshire County since 1996
Berkshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Berkshire County
Berkshire County had 57,946 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,257 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Cheshire itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Cheshire
2 public schools with 608 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoosac Valley Middle School | 4-7 | 309 | 10.0 |
| Hoosac Valley High School | 8-12 | 299 | 11.5 |
Towns near Cheshire
- Adams, MA4.4 mi · 8,166 people · home $209,900
- Adams, MA4.7 mi · 5,466 people · home $197,400
- Lanesborough, MA5.1 mi · 3,038 people · home $299,400
- Dalton, MA5.9 mi · 6,330 people · home $295,700
- North Adams, MA7.8 mi · 12,961 people · home $195,900
- Pittsfield, MA9.7 mi · 43,927 people · home $256,900
- Williamstown, MA9.8 mi · 7,513 people · home $437,100
- Williamstown, MA10.3 mi · 4,308 people · home $439,300
Cheshire questions
Is Cheshire, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cheshire scores better for retirees than 74% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 92%. 30.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.7).
How much does a house cost in Cheshire?
The median owner-occupied home in Cheshire is valued at $268,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,803, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Cheshire?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 14.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.3 inches of precipitation a year and 75.9 inches of snow.
Does Cheshire get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cheshire since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 13, 1975. 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)