Compare towns
Hancock vs Calais vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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.
| Measure | Hancock | Calais | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 752Lowest |
1,713 |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±11.1Highest 21% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.4±2 9% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$26k 19% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$70,582±$5kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Calais and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,500±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$256,900±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Calais and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,268±$415 10% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,134±$61Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Calais and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,018Lowest 67% below U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,148 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±36.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hancock | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.