PITTSFIELD — Berkshire County was ranked the nation’s second-hottest luxury real estate market by The Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com.

The list highlights Berkshire County's proximity to major cities, renowned cultural scene and access to nature. While the report refers to the “Pittsfield metro area,” the ranking includes all of Berkshire County, according to an article published May 1.

Local housing officials said this ranking shows the national significance of the area's real estate market.

"We offer obviously a lot of land and private, rural properties of significance at a price point that is hyper competitive with those markets," said Sandra Carroll, CEO of the Berkshire County Board of Realtors.

"It's close enough to everything, but far enough from everything as well," she added.

Berkshire County was beaten out by Santa Fe, N.M., but the county ranked above areas like Salt Lake City, Utah, and Barnstable on Cape Cod. The county bumped up to second place after it ranked 13th on the same list last winter.

The area is great for buyers who want "access to cultural institutions, outdoor recreation, and a manageable pace of daily life," wrote Anthony Smith, an economist at Realtor.com.

Another factor in the area's jump in the rankings was the decrease in luxury home price. The list defines the luxury tier of housing as the top 10 percent of listings by price.

In Berkshire County, a home at that price point would be listed for $1.76 million, a 7.9 percent decrease from last year. Smith attributed the drop to increased inventory and shifting demand, saying the lower prices offer buyers better value in the current market.

That wasn't always the case, as the demand for luxury real estate in Berkshire County spiked during COVID. Second-homeowners and commuters who work in a major city contributed to this demand, Carroll said.

The Berkshires’ reputation as a retreat for wealthy city residents dates back to the Gilded Age, when prominent families such as the Vanderbilts built sprawling estates like Elm Court.

The homes have "all of the kind of amenities that you could want in a high-end house, but in many different styles, many different locations, many different types," Carroll said.

Carroll said the ranking shows that the Berkshire County housing market has "that competitive edge" at a national level.

"It's just beautiful here," Carroll said. "To have this be a cultural center as well ... That's why we've continued to build this market."