Berkshires, housing-starved artists may find aid in pursuit of space

But younger artists in their 30s are finding fewer such bargains. Although real estate is still less expensive than in Boston, prices in the region have been rising at a more rapid pace. Between 2000 and 2006, the average price of a single-family home in Berkshire County increased 85 percent (from $164,000 to $304,000), compared to a 54 percent increase (from $404,000 to $624,000) in Boston during the same time period, according to data Benjamin culled from the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.