Rank
186
C+
Central Berkshire
4 schools · 1 high school · 3 elementary schools · Becket, Cummington, Dalton, Hinsdale, Peru, Washington, Windsor · Regional District
Central Berkshire Regional School District encompasses seven small towns in the Berkshires region of western Massachusetts: Becket, Cummington, Dalton, Hinsdale, Peru, Washington, and Windsor. This rural district serves a dispersed student population across communities characterized by modest single-family assessed values and varied economic conditions. With a graduation rate of 93.2% and an average SAT score of 1110, Central Berkshire performs near the middle of the state's districts. The region's small-town character and natural setting in the foothills of the Berkshires have long attracted residents seeking a quieter lifestyle away from more developed areas.
Avg MCAS ELA
44.8%
#183 of 326
Avg MCAS Math
36.8%
#215 of 326
Avg SAT
1,110
#159 of 290
Attendance
94.1%
#171 of 328
Graduation Rate
93.2%
#176 of 288
AP Pass Rate
63.5%
#193 of 278
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,833
#234 of 325
Avg Teacher Salary
$86,371
#206 of 325
MCAS Performance by Grade
| Grade | ELA M+E% | Math M+E% | Sci M+E% | Avg Score | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 46% | 47% | — | 499 | 112 |
| Grade 4 | 32% | 43% | — | 494 | 104 |
| Grade 5 | 43% | 46% | 48% | 498 | 133 |
| Grade 6 | 57% | 42% | — | 500 | 106 |
| Grade 7 | 52% | 41% | — | 496 | 122 |
| Grade 8 | 47% | 42% | 48% | 495 | 122 |
| Grade 10 | 51% | 50% | 58% | 499 | 115 |
| HS Science | — | — | 37% | 494 | 103 |
Showing 2025 data
Student Demographics
White: 86.1%
Asian: 0.7%
Hispanic: 7.4%
Black: 0.8%
Multi-Race: 4.9%
Am. Indian: 0.1%
Pac. Islander: 0.1%
Female: 50.4%Male: 49.5%Non-binary: 0.1%
High Schools in Central Berkshire
Rank
Grade
School
SAT
MCAS ELA
MCAS Math
AP
Grad
178
B-
Wahconah Regional High
SAT
1,110
ELA
52%
Math
50%
Grad
93.2%
178
B-
Wahconah Regional High
1,110
52%
50%
63.5%
93.2%
Elementary Schools in Central Berkshire
Rank
Grade
School
MCAS ELA
MCAS Math
Attend.
Class Size
222
B+
Craneville
ELA
51%
Math
61%
Attend.
94.4%
Class
21
222
B+
Craneville
51%
61%
94.4%
21
640
C
Becket Washington School
ELA
46%
Math
14%
Attend.
93.8%
Class
12
640
C
Becket Washington School
46%
14%
93.8%
12
172
C
Kittredge
ELA
68%
Math
58%
Attend.
95.1%
Class
15
172
C
Kittredge
68%
58%
95.1%
15
District Operations
Attendance
#171 of 328Attendance Rate94.1%
Avg Days Absent10
Chronically Absent (10%+)16.7%
Chronically Absent (20%+)2.5%
Per-Pupil Expenditure
#234 of 325In-District Per Pupil$19,767
Total Per Pupil$19,833
Total FTE Students1,787
Teacher Salaries
#206 of 325Average Salary$86,371
Teacher FTE Count120
Salary vs. Town Income2.0x(above town avg)
Teacher salary is 2.0x the town's per capita income ($42,902). Teachers earn well above the community per capita income. The MA median ratio is about 1.9x.
Class Size & Populations
#134 of 327Avg Class Size17
English Learners1%
Students w/ Disabilities20.3%
Total Students1,539
Staffing & Retention
#40 of 327Teacher Retention91.9%
Principal Retention80%
Total Teachers123
Attendance: 2024-2025 · Expenditure: 2024 · Salaries: 2023-2024 · Class Size: 2024-2025 · Staffing: 2025
Town Data
Becket
Avg Assessed Value
$383,895
#218 of 235
Avg Tax Bill
$3,670
Income Per Capita
$37,726
#157 of 235
Tax Bill Rank
#334
of 341 towns
Avg Assessed Value is the mean assessed value of single-family homes only (MA property class 101 — excludes condos, multi-family, and apartments). MA law requires assessment at 100% of fair market value. Income Per Capita is total town income divided by population, derived from MA state income tax returns (not Census surveys). It includes wages, investment income, and capital gains, so wealthy towns can have very high figures. The MA median is about $48K. Tax bill rank orders towns by average single-family tax bill, highest to lowest.
Tax & Bond Details
Residential Tax Rate0.96%
Tax as % of Income9.73%(low burden)
Tax rate is the effective residential rate (tax bill ÷ assessed value). Tax as % of income measures how much of residents’ income goes to property taxes. The MA median is about 14%; below 10% is low (wealthier towns with high incomes relative to home values), above 16% is above average.
New Growth
$5.3M+0.64% levy growth(low)
Residential$3.2M
Commercial/Industrial$2.2M
Residential Share58.92%(diverse)
New growth measures new taxable value from construction and development (not rising home prices). In Massachusetts, Proposition 2\u00BD limits annual property tax increases to 2.5% of the prior year\u2019s levy. New growth revenue is automatically added on top of this 2.5% base increase \u2014 it does not require a vote. This town’s total levy growth is about 3.1% (2.5% base + 0.64% from new growth). The MA median is about 1.2%; above 1.5% is strong, below 0.8% signals limited development. The residential share (58.92%) shows how much comes from homes vs. commercial/industrial. When most growth is residential, homeowners carry more of the tax burden. More commercial/industrial growth is generally better for homeowners because businesses share the cost.
Municipal Free Cash
$771K7.9% of operating budget
Free cash is the town's unencumbered surplus funds. 5-10% of budget is considered healthy. Operating budget: $9.8M.
Cummington
Avg Assessed Value
$366,331
#218 of 235
Avg Tax Bill
$4,575
Income Per Capita
$79,502
#157 of 235
Tax Bill Rank
#314
of 341 towns
Avg Assessed Value is the mean assessed value of single-family homes only (MA property class 101 — excludes condos, multi-family, and apartments). MA law requires assessment at 100% of fair market value. Income Per Capita is total town income divided by population, derived from MA state income tax returns (not Census surveys). It includes wages, investment income, and capital gains, so wealthy towns can have very high figures. The MA median is about $48K. Tax bill rank orders towns by average single-family tax bill, highest to lowest.
Tax & Bond Details
Residential Tax Rate1.25%
Tax as % of Income5.75%(low burden)
Tax rate is the effective residential rate (tax bill ÷ assessed value). Tax as % of income measures how much of residents’ income goes to property taxes. The MA median is about 14%; below 10% is low (wealthier towns with high incomes relative to home values), above 16% is above average.
New Growth
$1.0M+0.54% levy growth(low)
Residential$766K
Commercial/Industrial$249K
Residential Share75.5%(typical)
New growth measures new taxable value from construction and development (not rising home prices). In Massachusetts, Proposition 2\u00BD limits annual property tax increases to 2.5% of the prior year\u2019s levy. New growth revenue is automatically added on top of this 2.5% base increase \u2014 it does not require a vote. This town’s total levy growth is about 3.0% (2.5% base + 0.54% from new growth). The MA median is about 1.2%; above 1.5% is strong, below 0.8% signals limited development. The residential share (75.5%) shows how much comes from homes vs. commercial/industrial. When most growth is residential, homeowners carry more of the tax burden. More commercial/industrial growth is generally better for homeowners because businesses share the cost.
Dalton
Avg Assessed Value
$356,286
#218 of 235
Avg Tax Bill
$6,011
Income Per Capita
$38,962
#157 of 235
Tax Bill Rank
#222
of 341 towns
Avg Assessed Value is the mean assessed value of single-family homes only (MA property class 101 — excludes condos, multi-family, and apartments). MA law requires assessment at 100% of fair market value. Income Per Capita is total town income divided by population, derived from MA state income tax returns (not Census surveys). It includes wages, investment income, and capital gains, so wealthy towns can have very high figures. The MA median is about $48K. Tax bill rank orders towns by average single-family tax bill, highest to lowest.
Tax & Bond Details
Residential Tax Rate1.69%
Tax as % of Income15.43%(typical)
Tax rate is the effective residential rate (tax bill ÷ assessed value). Tax as % of income measures how much of residents’ income goes to property taxes. The MA median is about 14%; below 10% is low (wealthier towns with high incomes relative to home values), above 16% is above average.
New Growth
$3.2M+0.34% levy growth(low)
Residential$710K
Commercial/Industrial$2.4M
Residential Share22.47%(diverse)
New growth measures new taxable value from construction and development (not rising home prices). In Massachusetts, Proposition 2\u00BD limits annual property tax increases to 2.5% of the prior year\u2019s levy. New growth revenue is automatically added on top of this 2.5% base increase \u2014 it does not require a vote. This town’s total levy growth is about 2.8% (2.5% base + 0.34% from new growth). The MA median is about 1.2%; above 1.5% is strong, below 0.8% signals limited development. The residential share (22.47%) shows how much comes from homes vs. commercial/industrial. When most growth is residential, homeowners carry more of the tax burden. More commercial/industrial growth is generally better for homeowners because businesses share the cost.
Hinsdale
Avg Assessed Value
$411,579
#218 of 235
Avg Tax Bill
$4,375
Income Per Capita
$43,699
#157 of 235
Tax Bill Rank
#322
of 341 towns
Avg Assessed Value is the mean assessed value of single-family homes only (MA property class 101 — excludes condos, multi-family, and apartments). MA law requires assessment at 100% of fair market value. Income Per Capita is total town income divided by population, derived from MA state income tax returns (not Census surveys). It includes wages, investment income, and capital gains, so wealthy towns can have very high figures. The MA median is about $48K. Tax bill rank orders towns by average single-family tax bill, highest to lowest.
Tax & Bond Details
Residential Tax Rate1.06%
Tax as % of Income10.01%(below avg)
Tax rate is the effective residential rate (tax bill ÷ assessed value). Tax as % of income measures how much of residents’ income goes to property taxes. The MA median is about 14%; below 10% is low (wealthier towns with high incomes relative to home values), above 16% is above average.
New Growth
$9.8M+1.76% levy growth(strong)
Residential$1.7M
Commercial/Industrial$8.1M
Residential Share17.43%(diverse)
New growth measures new taxable value from construction and development (not rising home prices). In Massachusetts, Proposition 2\u00BD limits annual property tax increases to 2.5% of the prior year\u2019s levy. New growth revenue is automatically added on top of this 2.5% base increase \u2014 it does not require a vote. This town’s total levy growth is about 4.3% (2.5% base + 1.76% from new growth). The MA median is about 1.2%; above 1.5% is strong, below 0.8% signals limited development. The residential share (17.43%) shows how much comes from homes vs. commercial/industrial. When most growth is residential, homeowners carry more of the tax burden. More commercial/industrial growth is generally better for homeowners because businesses share the cost.
Municipal Free Cash
$567K7.9% of operating budget
Free cash is the town's unencumbered surplus funds. 5-10% of budget is considered healthy. Operating budget: $7.1M.
Peru
Avg Assessed Value
$291,441
#218 of 235
Avg Tax Bill
$4,689
Income Per Capita
$26,519
#157 of 235
Tax Bill Rank
#304
of 341 towns
Avg Assessed Value is the mean assessed value of single-family homes only (MA property class 101 — excludes condos, multi-family, and apartments). MA law requires assessment at 100% of fair market value. Income Per Capita is total town income divided by population, derived from MA state income tax returns (not Census surveys). It includes wages, investment income, and capital gains, so wealthy towns can have very high figures. The MA median is about $48K. Tax bill rank orders towns by average single-family tax bill, highest to lowest.
Tax & Bond Details
Residential Tax Rate1.61%
Tax as % of Income17.68%(above avg)
Tax rate is the effective residential rate (tax bill ÷ assessed value). Tax as % of income measures how much of residents’ income goes to property taxes. The MA median is about 14%; below 10% is low (wealthier towns with high incomes relative to home values), above 16% is above average.
New Growth
$6.2M+3.78% levy growth(strong)
Residential$243K
Commercial/Industrial$6.0M
Residential Share3.9%(diverse)
New growth measures new taxable value from construction and development (not rising home prices). In Massachusetts, Proposition 2\u00BD limits annual property tax increases to 2.5% of the prior year\u2019s levy. New growth revenue is automatically added on top of this 2.5% base increase \u2014 it does not require a vote. This town’s total levy growth is about 6.3% (2.5% base + 3.78% from new growth). The MA median is about 1.2%; above 1.5% is strong, below 0.8% signals limited development. The residential share (3.9%) shows how much comes from homes vs. commercial/industrial. When most growth is residential, homeowners carry more of the tax burden. More commercial/industrial growth is generally better for homeowners because businesses share the cost.
Washington
Avg Assessed Value
$376,551
#218 of 235
Avg Tax Bill
$5,204
Income Per Capita
$35,508
#157 of 235
Tax Bill Rank
#265
of 341 towns
Avg Assessed Value is the mean assessed value of single-family homes only (MA property class 101 — excludes condos, multi-family, and apartments). MA law requires assessment at 100% of fair market value. Income Per Capita is total town income divided by population, derived from MA state income tax returns (not Census surveys). It includes wages, investment income, and capital gains, so wealthy towns can have very high figures. The MA median is about $48K. Tax bill rank orders towns by average single-family tax bill, highest to lowest.
Tax & Bond Details
Residential Tax Rate1.38%
Tax as % of Income14.66%(typical)
Tax rate is the effective residential rate (tax bill ÷ assessed value). Tax as % of income measures how much of residents’ income goes to property taxes. The MA median is about 14%; below 10% is low (wealthier towns with high incomes relative to home values), above 16% is above average.
New Growth
$2.4M+2.06% levy growth(strong)
Residential$429K
Commercial/Industrial$2.0M
Residential Share17.67%(diverse)
New growth measures new taxable value from construction and development (not rising home prices). In Massachusetts, Proposition 2\u00BD limits annual property tax increases to 2.5% of the prior year\u2019s levy. New growth revenue is automatically added on top of this 2.5% base increase \u2014 it does not require a vote. This town’s total levy growth is about 4.6% (2.5% base + 2.06% from new growth). The MA median is about 1.2%; above 1.5% is strong, below 0.8% signals limited development. The residential share (17.67%) shows how much comes from homes vs. commercial/industrial. When most growth is residential, homeowners carry more of the tax burden. More commercial/industrial growth is generally better for homeowners because businesses share the cost.
Municipal Free Cash
$575K22.6% of operating budget
Free cash is the town's unencumbered surplus funds. 5-10% of budget is considered healthy. Operating budget: $2.5M.
Windsor
Avg Assessed Value
$301,854
#218 of 235
Avg Tax Bill
$2,846
Income Per Capita
$38,398
#157 of 235
Tax Bill Rank
#340
of 341 towns
Avg Assessed Value is the mean assessed value of single-family homes only (MA property class 101 — excludes condos, multi-family, and apartments). MA law requires assessment at 100% of fair market value. Income Per Capita is total town income divided by population, derived from MA state income tax returns (not Census surveys). It includes wages, investment income, and capital gains, so wealthy towns can have very high figures. The MA median is about $48K. Tax bill rank orders towns by average single-family tax bill, highest to lowest.
Tax & Bond Details
Residential Tax Rate0.94%
Tax as % of Income7.41%(low burden)
Tax rate is the effective residential rate (tax bill ÷ assessed value). Tax as % of income measures how much of residents’ income goes to property taxes. The MA median is about 14%; below 10% is low (wealthier towns with high incomes relative to home values), above 16% is above average.
New Growth
$29.2M+14.44% levy growth(strong)
Residential$2.5M
Commercial/Industrial$26.7M
Residential Share8.49%(diverse)
New growth measures new taxable value from construction and development (not rising home prices). In Massachusetts, Proposition 2\u00BD limits annual property tax increases to 2.5% of the prior year\u2019s levy. New growth revenue is automatically added on top of this 2.5% base increase \u2014 it does not require a vote. This town’s total levy growth is about 16.9% (2.5% base + 14.44% from new growth). The MA median is about 1.2%; above 1.5% is strong, below 0.8% signals limited development. The residential share (8.49%) shows how much comes from homes vs. commercial/industrial. When most growth is residential, homeowners carry more of the tax burden. More commercial/industrial growth is generally better for homeowners because businesses share the cost.
Municipal Free Cash
$140K4.9% of operating budget
Free cash is the town's unencumbered surplus funds. 5-10% of budget is considered healthy. Operating budget: $2.9M.