The Town FilesBerkshire, New York
Town in Tioga County · population 1,480 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $141,900
- Household income
- $74,881
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 39.0
Berkshire is a town of 1,480 people in Tioga County, New York. The median home is worth $141,900, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 84% of New York towns, easier by car than 79% of New York towns.
How Berkshire ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Berkshire is worth $141,900, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $74,881, which is more affordable than 88% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,368 a month. 83.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Berkshire | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $141,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,368 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $74,881 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Berkshire
| People | Berkshire | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 34.5 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 91.1% |
Weather in Berkshire
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 41.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 69.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Berkshire since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 3, 2025.
Severe weather in Tioga County since 1996
Tioga County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 1, 2018 | Flood | DR-4397: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Tioga County
Tioga County had 13,093 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,197 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Berkshire itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Towns near Berkshire
- Newark Valley, NY4.3 mi · 3,642 people · home $138,600
- Newark Valley, NY5.2 mi · 928 people · home $120,200
- Richford, NY5.6 mi · 1,043 people · home $110,500
- Nanticoke, NY7.2 mi · 1,581 people · home $157,100
- Lisle, NY8.2 mi · 2,691 people · home $116,800
- Candor, NY9.2 mi · 5,149 people · home $135,100
- Caroline, NY9.6 mi · 3,334 people · home $234,200
- Candor, NY9.9 mi · 786 people · home $119,400
Berkshire questions
Is Berkshire, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Berkshire scores better for retirees than 41% of New York towns and quieter than 84%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Berkshire?
The median owner-occupied home in Berkshire is valued at $141,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,881, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $1,368 a month.
What is the weather like in Berkshire?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 69.2 inches of snow.
Does Berkshire get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Berkshire in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)