Compare towns
Hancock vs Ware vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Ware | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 752Lowest |
6,369 |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±11.1Highest 18% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±2 6% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$26kHighest 7% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$70,582±$5k 32% below MA |
| Hancock and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,500±$21kHighest 33% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$256,900±$8k 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,268±$415Highest 28% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,134±$61 36% below MA |
| Hancock and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$4,148Highest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±36.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
62.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 25% below MA |
27 minHighest 9% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Hancock 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hancock | — | Pittsfield |
| High school 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 |
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.