Mount Washington is a Berkshire community in the clouds
Mount Washington is a high-altitude community in the Taconic Mountains that rises nearly 2,000 feet above sea level. With less than 200 full-time residents, Mount Washington has the lowest town population in Berkshire County and the third lowest in Massachusetts. The town anchors the state’s southwestern corner, bordering New York to the west and Connecticut to the south. “People who move to the area seek out that kind of rural community,” says Jared Kelly, an associate broker with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty who has nearly a decade of experience selling homes in the Berkshires. “South Berkshire County is full of these small, storybook-like towns, and it’s got a very Americana feel.” Mount Washington is mostly comprised of state parks, forests, and other natural landscapes. Aside from residents’ homes, the few buildings here include the Mount Washington Town Hall, the Mount Washington Church of Christ and historic structures like the North Schoolhouse. For shopping and dining, residents can head into the nearby town of Great Barrington, only 14 miles away. “This area is great for people who want to be close to Great Barrington as a hub but still want natural surroundings,” Kelly says.
State parks, lakes and Appalachian Trail access in the Taconic Mountains
The town is surrounded by the Mount Washington State Forest, which stretches across more than 4,000 acres in and around the community and has over 30 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Hikers can trek the state forest’s South Taconic Trail up to the summit of Alander Mountain for panoramic views of the Berkshires. Hiking enthusiasts can also access the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in the Mount Everett State Reservation, another outdoor recreation space that covers a portion of town. The third state park within the town’s limits is Bash Bish Falls State Park, a 400-acre area known for having the highest single-drop waterfall in the state. When the weather warms up, residents head to Plantain Pond to swim, boat and engage in other water activities. For more than 75 years, Camp Hi-Rock has brought people to Plantain Pond for summer retreats, family camps and events like Octoberfest.
Custom homes and large lots in the mountains
Mount Washington’s housing stock includes custom farmhouses, Craftsman builds, colonials and ranch-style homes. While some homes date back to the 19th century, others were built as recently as 2023. Many of the town’s historic homes have undergone renovations but still have their original designs preserved. Properties here offer the ultimate sense of privacy and are often tucked back into the woods off long, gravel driveways. The median home price in Mount Washington hovers around $360,000, but some single-family homes can cost up to $1 million. Higher prices generally correlate with larger home sizes, newer construction and more acreage.
Zoning for the Southern Berkshire Regional School District
Mount Washington is zoned for the Southern Berkshire Regional School District (SBRSD), which receives an overall B rating from Niche. Prekindergarten and kindergarten through fifth-grade students can enroll in the Undermountain Elementary School. Mount Everett Regional School serves grades six through 12. Both schools are rated B. Mount Everett students can take Advanced Placement courses or earn early college credits through the school’s partnerships with Simon’s Rock College and Berkshire Community College. For a private education option, Berkshire School is an A-plus-rated boarding school for ninth through 12th-grade students.
Great Barrington has shopping and dining options
Mount Washington residents can head to nearby towns for shopping and dining options. “There are two hubs in southern Berkshire County to get your groceries – there’s Great Barrington and, a bit farther, there’s Lenox,” Kelly says. “For a lot of the bigger box stores, people will make the trip up to Pittsfield.” Great Barrington is less than 30 minutes away by car and has a Big Y supermarket, Berkshire Food Co-op and Price Chopper grocery store, as well as dozens of both chain and local restaurants. The sole business in Mount Washington is the seasonal Blueberry Hill Farm, a place where people can hand-pick berries to bring home.
Rural roads weave through Mount Washington
Only a few paved roads lead in and out of town; Mount Washington Road runs north through the town of Egremont, where it merges with Massachusetts Route 41 and travels east into Great Barrington. There, commuters can access U.S. Route 7, a north-south arterial highway that cuts through Berkshire County. Great Barrington is also home to several specialty healthcare practices and Fairview Hospital, which has a 24-hour emergency department. Albany International Airport in New York and Bradley International Airport in Connecticut are located approximately 65 miles from Mount Washington in opposite directions.
