A recent review of The Massachusetts Department of Revenue web site town tax assessments, revealed some striking differences in the rates each town charges. These Berkshire towns have substantially lower rates than the majority of towns in The Berkshires. Let's run down the list in detail:

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Google Maps/Google Street View
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The cheapest locale is located just south of Pittsfield as Hancock's annual tax bill assessment is a mere $3 per $1,000 in assessed value. 

The Berkshires
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Second place goes to Alford which comes in at $5.55 per $1,000 in assessed value followed by Mount Washington with $6.11 per $1,000 in assessed value

Town of Alford - Facebook
Town of Alford - Facebook
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Mount Washington Church
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Tyringham takes the 4th spot with $6.72 per $1,000 in assessed value with Monterey close by at $7.28 per $1,000 in assessed value.

The next 5 Berkshire county towns did not quite make the coveted survey, but they also maintain a practical affordability towards this yearly expense:

The town of Otis is under the bubble with $7.75 per $1,000 in assessed value followed closely by Egremont as they check in at $7.93 per $1,000 in assessed value.

Egremont-Baldwin Hill
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Stockbridge Sign
Lyn O'Brien - Town of OtisStockbridge Sign
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Next up, is New Marlborough at $9.30 and Stockbridge with an eight cent differential at $9.38 per $1,000 in assessed value. "Lovely Lenox" takes the last top 10 spot as they were the only one of the ten to attain double digits at $10.84 per $1,000 in assessed value.

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Google Maps/Google Street View
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Just for curiosity's sake, the largest locales in the Berkshires did not make top ten status, but here is what they are paying in annual property taxes:

Great Barrington Town Sign
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Great Barrington: $14.86 per $1,000 in assessed value.

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Google Maps/Google Street View
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The city of Pittsfield checked in with a total of $18.56 per $1,000 in assessed value.

Google Maps/Google Street View
Google Maps/Google Street View
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Finally, North Adams was three cents under Pittsfield's end result as they chimed in with a total of $18.53 per $1,000 in assessed value.

In closing, a reminder that you sometimes get what you pay for. Although larger cities like Pittsfield and North Adams have substantially higher rates. They also provide City water and Sewer, full time Police and Fire Departments, full time Ambulance Crews, Complete Public School systems and many other amenities you won't find in the smaller towns.

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