What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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	Fall River	Pittsfield
People
Population	94,082Highest	43,457Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average	42.4±2Highest 6% above MA
	Pittsfield and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±1.2Highest MA: 19.4%	17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Fall River and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	34.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA	$70,582±$5kHighest 32% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,500±$11kHighest 30% below MA	$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,155±$27Highest 34% below MA	$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA
	Fall River and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,953Lowest 34% below MA	$4,148Highest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Pittsfield and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest MA: 10%	14.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	62.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 11% below MA	19 minLowest 36% below MA
Work from home	7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.2%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Pittsfield and Fall River 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	#262 of 282 in MA	#251 of 282 in MA
School district	Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical	Pittsfield
High school in town	B M C Durfee High	Taconic High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	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.