Boston Business Journal's quest to find where the wealthy live in the Bay State has resulted in its latest data collection of income and housing values in the state's 490 ZIP codes. Using information from the Department of Revenue, BBJ's identified the toniest ZIP codes, and the not-so tony.
Using income and other demographic data provided by Esri, a California-based provider of database-mapping software, the BBJ has identified a handful of candidates to potentially carry the crown as the wealthiest ZIP code in Massachusetts. Not surprisingly, most of the communities in the running are located in Boston's western suburbs.
At the top is Weston, with a median household income of $200,001 and median home value $1 million.
So how did the Berkshires do? Well, we might think certain areas are "wealthy" but they came up short compared to the rest of the state (with the caveat that rich and poor are relative).
We did crack the top 100, No. 80 to be exact. Our 90210 is 01258, better known as South Egremont.
The village, population 167, boasts a median household income of $72,768, a median home value of $292,500 and an average net worth of $1.05 million.
Also with an average net worth of a $1 million is Richmond, coming in at spot 105. (Richmond was also ranked No. 42 in the state with the most millionaires per residents; Alford was 18.) The top six in the Berkshires are all small towns, the biggest being West Stockbridge with a population of 1,678. Hmmm, do second-home owners get counted twice?
The county's two cities are in the 400 range, but they're not last in the state. Springfield, Lawrence and Lynn make up the bottom.
Massachusetts is cut off on this graphic but it looks like rain for sure is headed our way.
Fourteen months after Irene deluged the region, another hurricane is headed our way. The sweetly named Sandy (now dubbed "Frankenstorm") is expected to arrive early next week just in time for Halloween.
We'll be meeting with North Adams officials this afternoon about emergency preparations and checking in with other towns. We'll do our best to keep everyone as up-to-date as possible on cancellations and closures around the county.
Sandy coulddid dampen the opening of the Hoosac Wind Project, which has had its own stormy path to completion over the past decade.
Gov. Deval Patrick and EOEEA Secretary Richard Sullivan Jr. were scheduled to arrive on Florida mountain with other state and local officials on Monday morning to celebrate with turbine-developer Iberdrola the near completion of the state's largest utility-scale wind power project. We learned Friday morning shortly after posting this that the press conference has been been canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date.
Meanwhile, the governor is warning state utiltities to have their ducks in row for this storm after complaints during last year's disasters of delays and poor communication with local officials. He's holding a press avail at noon to talk about the storm but no word yet on whether we'll be able to listen in.
None of the contaminated steroids linked to the outbreak are known to have been used in the area, Berkshire Medical Center and North Adams Regional Hospital told us several weeks ago; since then, all products from the New England Compounding Center (now under criminal investigation) have been removed from their stock.
Remember Tom Finneran, once the most powerful man in the state? He's not getting that taxpayer-funded pension.
Oops. Gene Shalit's being charged after hitting a pole in Lenox on Wednesday and ending up in someone's front yard. Shalit, 86, reportedly told police he dozed off. No one was hurt.
A reminder that tonight is the Halloween parade in Pittsfield;road closures can be found here. If you're looking for a scare, try the North Adams Movieplex, which is offering a raft of horror movies and two Halloween-themed comedies.
Gov. Deval Patrick stops by the Rice Silk Mill in Pittsfield this afternoon for a ribbon-cutting and a message about Gateway Cities (of which Pittsfield is one). We were at the mill 10 months ago when developers were getting ready to turn the derelict building into sweet apartments. Can't wait to see the changes.
Looking for some bargains? The state's auctioning off some $435,000 in unclaimed property on eBay beginning Saturday and running through Dec. 22. Some of the items, including a diamond ring worth $17,000 and a 300-year-old brandy snifter were on display in Springfield. You can catch them today in Worcester (from noon to 5) or wait until they show up on eBay.
The Boston Business Journal has a pretty "hot" map: it shows where in the state the millionaires cluster. Dark red indicates fewer than 100 residents per million-dollar earner. Not surprisingly, the Berkshire millionaires are cluster in South County and Williamstown.
Well, the Doc made up for it in his followup, 'I'm from Western Mass," which was released Thursday evening. The newest video features locations throughout the county.
After Thursday's release, Dr. Westchesterson plans on hitting the road, which will take him to the Berkshires. He is scheduled to perform at Chameleon's Nightclub on Saturday, Nov. 24.
Since dropping on YouTube last Friday, the catchy "413" has gone viral with nearly 58,000 hits.
Dr. Westchesterson claims to have fled Portland, Ore., after dispensing medical marijuana and now spends his time with select patients and working on his music career. He also says he graduated from Agawam High School ("Shake yourself from the senior prom, 'cause I come straight out of Agawam."), which he features in his video along with chillin' at Yankee Candle and shooting hoops at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Also getting shoutouts are Friendly's, the food court at the Holyoke Mall, UMass, Springfield, Dr. Suess and local eateries.
What's missing? Berkshire and Franklin counties, which has caused some griping from fans. On his blog, Dr. Westchesterson promises to remedy that oversight:
When I read comments on my YouTube channel that certain people in Pittsfield and Greenfield and Holyoke were a little dissapointed that their particular little corners of W. Mass weren't represented in the video - it made me want to do one thing and one thing only.
Make another video that includes even MORE gems and hidden treasures of the 413. Like the Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke. And the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne. And the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge. And the inside of the womens' only dorms at each of the seven sister schools. ;)
May we also suggest Jack's Hot Dogs in North Adams, Joe's Diner in Lee or the Highland or Teo's in Pittsfield? We've also got lakes, a natural bridge, trains, Norman Rockwell, the Berkshire Museum, Williams College, Tanglewood and the tallest mountain in the state.
Using income and other demographic data provided by Esri, a California-based provider of database-mapping software, the BBJ has identified a handful of candidates to potentially carry the crown as the wealthiest ZIP code in Massachusetts. Not surprisingly, most of the communities in the running are located in Boston's western suburbs.
