Lenox is an upscale and music-oriented retreat in the central Berkshires
Once a summer retreat for the Gilded Age elite, Lenox remains an upscale and highly sought-after destination in the Berkshire mountains of Western Massachusetts. This town of about 5,000 residents is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Summertime concerts, internationally renowned spas and ski resorts draw hundreds of thousands of tourists throughout the year and help to fuel a hot rental market. Homes are higher-end and hard to come by, but for many second-home owners, it is a laid-back locale with a thriving downtown district and world-class entertainment. "It's like there are two different groups: people who covet the Hamptons and people who covet the Berkshires and Lenox," says Elle Villetto, a Berkshires native and Realtor with William Pitt Sotheby's International. "Lenox is more like the artsy, laid-back version. People aren't wearing their Christian Louboutins. They're wearing Birkenstocks."
Hot housing market and low inventory in Lenox
The median single-family price is $615,000, significantly higher than usual for Berkshire County. Inventory is low for Western Massachusetts in general, according to Villetto, and bidding wars often drive prices up above asking. Lenox's 19th-century mansions, often referred to as "cottages," have been carefully preserved and converted to condominiums, museums, and resorts. Author Edith Wharton's English countryside-inspired estate, now a museum, is an international attraction. Custom contemporary homes and historic Colonial Revivals on several acres may hit the market for between $1 and $5 million. But not every home is a mansion, and the area is known for its architectural variety, including Cape Cod, ranch and Colonial Revival-style homes. Many residents are second-home owners, and properties can return significant rental income in the busy summer tourist season.
Concerts on the lawn at Tanglewood
Lenox comes alive in the summer as more than 350,000 visitors arrive for big-name artists and symphony performances at Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's famed 500-acre campus. Locals and visitors lay out picnic blankets and chairs for classical, contemporary, pop and other performances on the lawn. The Concerts for Very Young People series offers interactive and educational experiences for kids. The Popular Artist Series features names such as Nas, Bonnie Raitt and John Legend. The main event each year is Fourth of July weekend with Berkshires resident James Taylor, who has returned to the venue for over 50 years. "He's very much a part of Lenox and the Berkshire community," Villetto says.
Outdoor activities throughout the seasons
The mountains are the backdrop for year-round activities. Kennedy Park features nearly 15 miles of hardwood forest trails and mountain vista views. "It's very popular in Lenox, and it's open year-round, so you'll see people snowshoeing in the winter and walking their dogs in the summer," Villetto says. The Massachusetts Audubon Society's Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary offers trails of varying difficulty set amid forests, meadows, and wetlands, where the resident beavers build their dams. The All Persons Trail is a mostly flat, 20- to 30-minute walk, while the Trail of the Ledges is a more strenuous 2-hour uphill trip. It rewards hikers with panoramic mountain views. Bousquet Mountain ski resort, the Berkshires' oldest existing ski area, helps to keep the tourist season going in the winter.
No. 1 school district in Berkshire County
Lenox Public Schools is a perk for Lenox families, earning an overall A and the No. 1 ranking in the county, according to Niche. The district oversees Morris Elementary, Lenox Memorial Middle School and Lenox Memorial High School, each earning an A-minus. The high school incorporates a challenging curriculum that includes advanced placement or honors literature, science, math, history, and language arts. There are also nontraditional options such as Latin, Voices of Protest and Science Fiction.
Local businesses in Lenox's walkable downtown
Downtown Lenox's local shops and restaurants are another draw for locals and tourists, and no big box stores or chains can be found here. Clothing and jewelry stores, art galleries and patio restaurants are linked by brick walkways and decorated by flowerbeds. The dining scene includes gastropubs, coffee shops and innovative culinary experiences. Alta Restaurant & Wine Bar uses local ingredients for its Mediterranean dishes, such as seared maple leaf duck breast and sweet pea risotto. Reservations are recommended in the busy tourist season. Loeb's Foodtown sells fresh produce and pantry staples. The weekly Lenox Farmer's Market also supplements the fresh food options.
Route 7 connects to nearby Berkshire towns
Lenox is centrally located in Berkshire County, about 7 miles south of Pittsfield. Route 7 is the county's main north-south route, connecting to nearby Pittsfield, Stockbridge and Great Barrington. It passes just east of the town center. "That's what makes it unique — you have to turn off Route 7 and go down a side street to get here," Villetto says. "So it's conveniently right off the main drive but also off the beaten path." However, traffic is substantial in the busy summer months. Berkshire Regional Transit Authority buses also connect to neighboring towns.
