What stands out worked out from the figures below

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

Pittsfield has the most homeowners (62.8%).

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	Everett	Pittsfield
People
Population	50,045Highest	43,457Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA	42.4±2Highest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	34.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Everett and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA	$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA	$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA	$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,880Highest 19% below MA	$4,148Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Everett and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Lowest MA: 10%	14.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	62.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 20% above MA	19 minLowest 36% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6%	10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Everett 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	#264 of 282 in MA	#251 of 282 in MA
School district	Everett	Pittsfield
High school in town	Everett High	Taconic High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	9.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.