BERKSHIRE COUNTY, Mass. - The population in the Berkshires has been declining for years, but now, because of the pandemic, Pittsfield and the surrounding areas are experiencing some of the fastest population growth in the entire country.

Jonathan Butler, President & CEO of 1Berkshire, said, "The pandemic has given us a kind of catalyst event that has worked to our favor in terms of people looking to the Berkshires. Where certainly it's a more comfortable place after living through a pandemic experience in an urban center."

According to data from the U.S. Postal Service, the Berkshires has the fifth-largest positive change in people moving to the area since 2019.

Those numbers are reflected in the county's housing market, which is at an all-time low of homes for sale.

Eric Stueurnagle, President of Berkshire County Board of Realtors, said, "We had 817 houses actively for sale in 2018, and we have about 300 right now."

Stueurnagle said many of the people he's talked to are moving into the region from urban centers across the country.

"With remote work, remote school, things like that, we're really using our houses differently. So people that were in these areas, that living situation isn't conducive to how we're living right now," Stueurnagle said

Butler said how long people continue to work remotely will determine how sustainable this growth is, but he thinks enough will stay to improve the local economy long-term.

Butler said, "There also is value in new wealth coming into the region. We'll be paying close attention to how that trickles into our economy, what sectors benefit the most from that. But all in all, I think we're cautious and aware that there will be some things that need to be addressed because of this. But overall, we're really optimistic about what the longer-term ramifications might be."