The tranquil, tree-filled landscape of Worthington
Worthington is situated in western Hampshire County on the edge of the Berkshires, one of the 28 Hilltowns of Western Massachusetts, an area known for its slower pace of life and rural surroundings characterized by rivers and farmland interspersed with forested areas lined with hiking trails. “When you go into the Hilltowns, it’s just stunning, and especially lovely to drive through in October,” says Karen Ford, a Realtor at Park Square Realty with ten years of real estate experience. Fall foliage turns the rugged, forested landscape into a multicolored canvas of orange, red, green and yellow. Sparsely populated Worthington offers private lots surrounded by farms, fields and forests, and the rural peace and quiet attracts homeowners who want to be immersed in nature, miles from city life. At the same time, though, the town is not entirely removed from civilization. Worthington is just over 20 miles from Pittsfield, where locals can find a larger variety of big-box retailers, including Walmart and The Home Depot.
Outdoor recreation in the Berkshire Hills
Worthington is fully immersed in nature, between its forests and wildlife management areas. Peru State Forest spans more than 2,700 acres, where nature lovers can go on a quiet walk through the snow past stone walls and mountain creeks. One of the quicker hikes in the area leads to Glendale Falls, where rushing water cascades over mossy boulders and ferns. Worthington State Forest is another 6,000 acres of sylvan escape, welcoming hikers, anglers, campers and hunters. Members of the Worthington Rod and Gun Club can practice at the shooting range and archery range, and socialize at the clubhouse. The Links at Worthington, established in 1904, is a ten-hole golf course dotted with maple and pine trees where kids play for free. The Links offers memberships as well as day rates, and hosts clinics, tournaments and summer concerts.
Peaceful countryside homes in western Hampshire County
Quiet, rural roads stretch through forests, past the occasional Cape Cod home and farmhouse. Home prices range from about $210,000 to $810,000, with some fixer uppers at lower price points. Homes here typically sit on spacious, wooded lots, but the pricier homes have the most privacy: those in the $600,000s through $800,000s often come with 30 to 60 acres, which may include fruit trees, ponds or a barn.
The pipeline at Hampshire Regional School District
Students are zoned for the Hampshire Regional School District, which is not rated on Niche, and families in the district have the option of choosing schools outside their assigned district. Within the district, R. H. Conwell Elementary, rated B-minus on Niche, serves prekindergartners through sixth graders. Seventh through twelfth graders may advance to Hampshire Regional High School, rated B. In the 2024-2025 school year, just over 20% of the high school’s population elected to attend via school choice, and about 30% of high schoolers are on-track to be first generation college students.
A taste of western Massachusetts
Worthington has a handful of locally owned restaurants and one small grocery market. On the edge of Worthington State Forest sits Liston’s Bar and Restaurant, where folks can watch the game at the bar or hang out on the patio decorated with string lights. This casual eatery, established in 1933, serves sandwiches, fries and beer. Open only for breakfast and brunch on the weekends, Windy Hill Sugarhouse serves big, fluffy pancakes with homemade maple syrup in a rustic barn setting. Sena Farm Brewery is tucked away off a tree-lined, one-way street, offering a pastoral location to meet up for beer brewed in the onsite taproom. Corners Grocery shares a building with the local post office and has a limited grocery selection. Shoppers can also go to the larger supermarkets, as well as more shopping and dining, in the Berkshire Crossing shopping center in Pittsfield.
Annual regional fairs and more activities in the Worthington area
Events near Worthington celebrate the culture and commodities of the area. About 30 miles away, West Springfield hosts the Big E, short for “exposition.” It’s a multi-week, multi-state fair with concerts, vendors and entertainment. “People come from all over New England,” Ford says of the event. The Big E showcases goods made in each of the New England states, from Vermont-made cheddar cheese to Massachusetts-grown cranberries. A bit closer to Worthington, the four-day Cummington Fair includes a dairy show and live music. The fairgrounds hosts other events throughout the year showcasing local agriculture and artisans, like the Hampshire County 4-H Fair and the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair. Within the community, Worthington’s Council on Aging organizes events like bingo and potlucks.
Navigating the hill towns of western Massachusetts
Worthington is a car-dependent area about 35 miles northwest of Springfield via Massachusetts Route 112 and Interstate 91. MA-112 runs north-south through the community, connecting drivers to other Hilltowns. Emergency care at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield is just over 20 miles west. Bradley International Airport is about an hour’s drive southeast. The city of Boston is about 120 miles east, and Albany, New York, is just over 60 miles northwest.
