What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).

Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

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	Deerfield	Pittsfield
People
Population	5,158Lowest	43,457Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA	42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	17.6%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pittsfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	19.4%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Deerfield and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Deerfield and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average	$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA	$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA	$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA
	Deerfield and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Highest about the MA average	$4,148Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest MA: 10%	14.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 40% below MA	19 minHighest 36% below MA
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Deerfield and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#156 of 282 in MA	#251 of 282 in MA
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Pittsfield
High school in town	Frontier Regional	Taconic High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	9.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.