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View of Lenox, Massachusetts.

Living in Lenox, Massachusetts

Lenox is a town in the central Berkshires of Massachusetts, set apart from Richmond to its west by a ridge of the Berkshire Mountains that includes Yokun Seat, at 2,146 feet the range's highest point. Settled in 1750 and incorporated in 1767, Lenox served as the Berkshire County seat from 1784 to 1868, and later became a Gilded Age resort town whose summer estates now house cultural institutions such as Tanglewood and The Mount.

Lenox centerLenox Dale

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0

Lenox at a glance

Lenox's villages and zip codes

Lenox center uses ZIP code 01240; Lenox Dale uses 01242.

Lenox villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Lenox center01240Along Walker Street and Main Street, where Town Hall, the library and downtown shops and restaurants are located.
Lenox Dale01242A village in the southeastern part of town along the Housatonic River.

Things to do in Lenox, MA

Start with Tanglewood and The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home, then 3 more below.

  1. Tanglewood

    The summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937, on a former Tappan family estate that lies partly in Lenox and partly in neighboring Stockbridge.

    Seasonal

    297 West Street, Lenox, MA

  2. The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home

    The Gilded Age estate novelist Edith Wharton designed and lived in, now a historic house museum with gardens open to visitors.

    Year-round

    2 Plunkett Street, Lenox, MA

  3. Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

    A Massachusetts Audubon sanctuary with trails through woods, wetlands and beaver ponds at the base of Lenox Mountain.

    FreeYear-round

    472 West Mountain Road, Lenox, MA

  4. Apple Squeeze

    Lenox's signature fall street festival in the historic village, with artisan and food vendors, live music and family activities, held annually in late September.

    SeasonalFree

    Lenox Historic Village

  5. Downtown Lenox shops and restaurants

    Church Street and Main Street hold restaurants, wine bars and shops in and around the historic village center.

    Year-round

    Church Street, Lenox, MA

More worth a visit

  • October Mountain State ForestPart of Massachusetts's largest state forest extends into Lenox, with wooded trails.
  • Kripalu Center for Yoga & HealthA retreat and wellness center on a former Jesuit novitiate property in Lenox.

Around the calendar

  • May-September
    Lenox Farmer's MarketA weekly Friday market at St. Ann's Parish, 134 Main Street, with regional farmers, bakers and artisans, running late May through mid-September.
  • September
    Lenox Loves MusicFree Sunday afternoon concerts in Lilac Park each September.
  • September
    Apple SqueezeAn annual fall street fair in the Lenox Historic Village with vendors, live music and family activities.

A little history

Lenox was settled in 1750 when Jonathan and Sarah Hinsdale established an inn and store, and the town was incorporated in 1767.

Lenox served as the seat of Berkshire County from 1784 to 1868.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Lenox

A ridge of the Berkshire Mountains including Lenox Mountain and Yokun Seat borders Lenox to the west, giving the town wildlife sanctuaries and wooded trails alongside its Tanglewood lawns.

  • Pleasant Valley Wildlife SanctuaryMass Audubon trails through woods and wetlands at the base of Lenox Mountain.
  • October Mountain State ForestA portion of the state's largest state forest lies within Lenox.
  • Kennedy ParkA town-owned trail network on a former resort property near the village center.

Where to eat in Lenox: restaurants and coffee

5 places in Lenox to try, including restaurant and wine bar and european-style wine bar. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Lenox

Downtown Lenox's Church Street and Main Street are walkable, with sidewalks connecting shops, restaurants and the library, but Tanglewood, The Mount and outlying trailheads require a car.

Lenox center

6 Walker Street, Lenox, MA 01240

Lenox Dale

Check any Lenox address

Drive times

  • Pittsfield, about 8 miles15-20 min
  • Albany International Airport, about 45 miles55-60 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

BRTA bus routes connect Lenox to Pittsfield; Lenox has no train station. The nearest Amtrak service is on the Berkshire Flyer seasonal train to Pittsfield.

Lenox property taxes

Lenox's FY2026 residential tax rate is $9.85 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $14.37. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $985 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $6,621, on an average assessed value of $672,163.

Lenox's FY2026 tax rates

$9.85per $1,000, residential

  • Residential$9.85 per $1,000
  • Commercial, industrial, personal property$14.37 per $1,000
  • Average single-family assessed value$672,163
  • Average single-family tax bill$6,621
  • Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

Lenox property tax calculator

$
Assessed value (100%)
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Taxes a year
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About this much a month
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Estimate at the FY2026 residential rate; the assessor's value sets the bill.

Add it to a full payment estimate

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal yearResidential rate
FY2022$10.84
FY2023$9.16
FY2024$9.07
FY2025$9.05
FY2026$9.85

Look up a Lenox property

Buying a home in Lenox

What we check on a Lenox purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, shared building department, title 5 septic, river flood zone.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Berkshire County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

The Housatonic River runs along Lenox's eastern side and forms Woods Pond behind a dam, putting low-lying parcels near the river in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Lenox
Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Lenox Fire Department before the sale closes.

Shared building department

Building inspections are a shared regional service

Lenox's Building Inspections Department is a shared service with Lee, Great Barrington and Stockbridge. Permit and inspection scheduling goes through that shared office.

Title 5 septic

Homes on septic need a Title 5 inspection before sale

The regional Tri-Town Health Department, which covers Lenox, Lee and Stockbridge, handles Title 5 septic system and private well information. Buyers of homes on septic should confirm inspection status before closing.

River flood zone

Check FEMA flood maps near the Housatonic River

The Housatonic River runs along Lenox's eastern edge, and parcels near the river and Woods Pond can fall within FEMA flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer on a property near the river.

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.

James Allen

Thinking about buying in Lenox?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Lenox address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Lenox: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Lenox.

Town Hall offices and contacts

Lenox Town Hall is at 6 Walker Street, Lenox, MA 01240. Main line: 413-637-5500.

Lenox, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Lenox, MA?

Lenox's FY2026 residential tax rate is $9.85 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $14.37. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Lenox?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $3,940 a year at $9.85 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Lenox have a split tax rate?

Yes. Homes pay $9.85 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $14.37.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Lenox?

The average single-family tax bill in Lenox was $6,621 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $672,163.

What county is Lenox, MA in?

Lenox is in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

What ZIP codes does Lenox use?

Lenox center uses 01240; Lenox Dale uses 01242.

How far is Lenox from Pittsfield?

Lenox is about 8 miles south of Pittsfield, roughly a 15-20 minute drive.

Is there a train station in Lenox?

No year-round station. Lenox has BRTA bus service to Pittsfield, and the seasonal Berkshire Flyer train serves Pittsfield.

Who handles Title 5 septic and well questions in Lenox?

The regional Tri-Town Health Department, serving Lenox, Lee and Stockbridge, handles Title 5 septic inspections and private well information.

Which towns border Lenox?

Lenox borders Pittsfield, Washington, Lee, Stockbridge and Richmond.

Towns near Lenox

Neighbors of Lenox, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources