With its reputation as an expensive place to live, Massachusetts does not rank at the top of the list for many people when they start searching for their retirement destination. However, here is a suggestion… look closely at Berkshire County, a wondrously rural collection of small, picturesque towns and villages nestled among the beautiful Berkshire Mountains in the western part of the State. In this idyllic, restful setting, conveniently located within reasonable driving distance from Boston and New York, retirees will find themselves surrounded by a seemingly endless array of music festivals, art museums, performance venues alive with music, theatre and dance.

This compact region is a vibrant and internationally recognized hub for the arts with a year-round offering of events and attractions that annually attracts more than three million visitors. Combine this atmosphere with a wide selection of award-winning restaurants, a bountiful supply of antique galleries and other specialty shops, and there are more than enough sensory pleasures for even the most demanding patron of the arts.

Adding to the allure of The Berkshires as a retirement choice is the fact that, surprisingly, many of the housing options found here are priced significantly below real estate prices in other parts of Massachusetts. For example, in Pittsfield, a small town of about 41, 000 located right in the heart of the region, the average price of a home is less than $150,000. And in Williamstown, home prices are higher, but with a median price of $275,000, they are still substantially below those found in the metropolitan Boston area and along the Atlantic Coastal areas of the State.

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