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Lanesborough

Lanesborough

Located in Berkshire County

$417,738 Average Value
$270 Average Price per Sq Ft
5 Homes For Sale

Lanesborough recreation attracts vacationers and new residents alike

It’s not uncommon for people to spend childhood vacations at Lanesborough’s ski slopes and apple farms, only to return to the small Western Massachusetts town as adults. For example, Lisa Wellspeak grew up visiting her cousins in Lanesborough, and she remembers summers of ponies, dirt bikes and blueberry picking at Mount Greylock. As an adult, she moved from Pittsfield to Lanesborough, where she’s now the town’s assessor clerk. The communities neighbor each other, but driving from Pittsfield to Lanesborough offers a stark change in landscape, as dense city streets give way to lakefront, trees and mountains. “When you leave Pittsfield and come into Lanesborough, it’s like you’re entering another world,” Wellspeak says. Other Lanesborough residents grew up much farther away, but similar fond memories of childhood vacations drew them back. The community is part of The Berkshires, a region of Western Massachusetts rich with outdoor activities. In addition, Lanesborough is in a well-regarded public school district that makes it desirable as a permanent home, not just a vacation spot.

Lanesborough's history and town pride is on display with a unique quote from Josh Billings.
Lanesborough's history and town pride is on display with a unique quote from Josh Billings.
Outdoor recreation is a huge draw for Lanesborough with scenic views of the water and mountains.
Outdoor recreation is a huge draw for Lanesborough with scenic views of the water and mountains.
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Recreation from Mount Greylock in the north to Pontoosuc Lake to the south

Mount Greylock’s 3,500-foot summit rises on the north side of Lanesborough. Dozens of miles of trails, including a portion of the Appalachian Trail, wind around the mountain or lead to its peak, the highest point in the state. Many other hiking trails extend through Lanesborough, with several at Balance Rock State Park. Walking paths lead to the “Balance Rock,” a boulder that seems to defy physics by how it’s perched on a small stone. Boaters and paddlers are on the water at Pontoosuc Lake throughout the spring and summer, but fishers are also active in the winter, when ice fishing draws people from across Massachusetts. The 12-mile Ashuwillticook Rail Trail passes through the west end of Lanesborough, hugging the bank of the Cheshire Reservoir and connecting to nearby towns such as Adams. “You can see water, and you can see ducks and geese as you’re riding your bike,” Wellspeak says. Skiers head to Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in the neighboring town of Hancock. Back in Lanesborough, Bill Laston Memorial Park hosts a playground and youth lacrosse, football and baseball games.

In the summer, the town holds Lanesborough Day at the park, bringing live music, free snacks and inflatables. In 2025, the community began putting on Winter Fun Fest, a mix of indoor and outdoor activities including live music, hot chocolate and a bonfire.

The Cheshire Reservoir is a popular spot for kayaking and is a short drive from Lanesborough.
The Cheshire Reservoir is a popular spot for kayaking and is a short drive from Lanesborough.
The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail stretches through the Eastern part of Lanesborough and is popular for casual strolls or more serious hikes.
The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail stretches through the Eastern part of Lanesborough and is popular for casual strolls or more serious hikes.
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Homes among Western Massachusetts' lakefront and farmland

Ranch homes and Cape Cods are concentrated around Pontoosuc Lake and in the middle of Lanesborough. These houses are typically lined up on lots of an acre or less. To the north, some farmhouses have been converted into country escapes with dozens of acres. Turnkey home prices typically vary from $200,000 to $500,000, while houses with four-plus bedrooms or a lakefront location can cost up to $1.1 million.

People from New York, North Carolina and even Florida have relocated to Lanesborough in recent years. That trend picked up after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic sent many people searching for homes in more remote areas, says Barb Hassan, owner of Barb Hassan Realty in Lanesborough. "During COVID, many people from the cities made this their second home," she says. "But after COVID, many people stayed." Tourists also frequent Lanesborough, but Hassan says it's not an influx of crowds that disrupts the community. "Our summer season is when we see the most people coming back to the lake communities."

Larger homes tucked off the street are popular with home buyers in the Lanesborough area.
Larger homes tucked off the street are popular with home buyers in the Lanesborough area.
Many homes within the Lanesborough area sit on the edge of heavily forested areas.
Many homes within the Lanesborough area sit on the edge of heavily forested areas.
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Well-rated schools in the Mount Greylock Regional School District

Before seventh grade, children can attend Lanesborough Elementary School. Mount Greylock Regional School is a combined middle and high school that teaches all other students in the district. Mount Greylock Regional School offers more than 15 Advanced Placement classes, allowing students to potentially earn college credits in physics, computer science and other topics. Niche gives both schools A-minus grades.

Lanesborough Elementary School has an overall grade of A- on Niche.
Lanesborough Elementary School has an overall grade of A- on Niche.
Greylock Regional High School is an academic springboard for students of Williamstown.
Greylock Regional High School is an academic springboard for students of Williamstown.
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250 years of gathering at St. Luke’s

Founded in 1767, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is the 11th-oldest Episcopal parish in the state. The congregation worships in a wooden church near the center of Lanesborough. From there, St. Luke’s collects and donates clothes and blankets, gathers in December for caroling and holds classes for the community, such as fraud prevention training for seniors.

Dining along Route 7, weekends in Williamstown

Lanesborough’s few stores and restaurants line U.S. Route 7. Coasters and awards cover the walls of Olde Forge Restaurant, known for its Buffalo wings and globe-spanning beer menu. People can make grocery runs to Target on the southeast side of town. Some people buy from local farms like Red Shirt Farm, where people can pay a fee to receive a cut of what the farms grows and raises. "There are plenty of them, where you can go and pick up fresh-grown food, get eggs and order turkeys," Hassan says. People may go 15 miles north to visit Williamstown, home to Williams College and a collection of restaurants and shops. “It’s a cute little touristy town,” Wellspeak says. “They have football games, and those weekends are bustling with people.”

Olde Forge Restaurant is a local favorite for pub food and it's iconic salad bar.
Olde Forge Restaurant is a local favorite for pub food and it's iconic salad bar.
Residents of Lanesborough don't have to travel too far into Pittsfield to pick up staples from big box stores like Target.
Residents of Lanesborough don't have to travel too far into Pittsfield to pick up staples from big box stores like Target.
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Cars, buses travel along Route 7

Locals generally rely on cars to get around, with Route 7 the primary highway through the community. Berkshire Regional Transit Authority buses stop along Route 7 on their way to and from Pittsfield. It’s 60 miles to Springfield, Western Massachusetts’ largest city.

Alex Soderstrom
Written By
Alex Soderstrom
Noel Poage
Photography Contributed By
Noel Poage
Becky Gaskill
Video By
Becky Gaskill

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Lanesborough Housing Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$499,900
Median Sale Price
$469,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$480,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$139,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
27
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
1%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$270

Area Facts

Number of Homes
412
Number of Homes for Sale
5
Median Year Built
1974
Months of Supply
2.20
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,008
On par with the national average
1,929
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,280
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,341
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
600
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
21,126

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

Lanesborough Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
3,432
Median Age
51
Population under 18
17.6%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
28.1%
Above the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$70,401
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$101,129

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
93.5%
On par with the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
34%
Advanced Degrees
16.3%
% Population in Labor Force
69.4%
On par with the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
14°F
Average Summer High Temperature
79°F
Annual Snowfall
44''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®®

8 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®®

2 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
Lanesborough