What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbus has the most people working from home (22.2%).

Pittsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Columbus	Pittsfield
People
Population	849Lowest	1,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.6±11.8Highest 10% above NY	40.9±8.5Lowest about the NY average
	Columbus and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±9Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.8%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Pittsfield and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±6.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.6%±5.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Pittsfield and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	3%±1.8Highest NY: 7%
	Pittsfield and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,889±$11kLowest 32% below NY	$66,917±$7kHighest 22% below NY
	Pittsfield and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$124,700±$36kLowest 71% below NY	$125,700±$32kHighest 70% below NY
	Pittsfield and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,500±$635Highest 7% below NY	$922±$284Lowest 43% below NY
	Columbus and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,071Highest 53% below NY	$2,006Lowest 70% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±92.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	55.2%±36.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Pittsfield and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest NY: 14%	23%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	86.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY	1981Lowest 22 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest about the NY average	24 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	22.2%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9%	17.9%±10.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Columbus and Pittsfield 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

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.