Compare towns
Berkshire vs Java vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkshire has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (17.9%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Berkshire | Java | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,263 |
2,049Highest |
1,233Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±3.2Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
40.9±8.5 about the NY average |
| Java and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.7%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
25.8%±2.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Berkshire and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±5.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Pittsfield and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
16.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
3%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,881±$18k 13% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$66,917±$7kLowest 22% below NY |
| Java and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,900±$20k 67% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$125,700±$32kLowest 70% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,368±$126Highest 16% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$922±$284 43% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,573 46% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,006Lowest 70% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.2%±35.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
55.2%±36.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Pittsfield and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
23%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 6% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 3.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
17.9%±10.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Pittsfield and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.