What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leominster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Leominster	Pittsfield
People
Population	43,909Highest	43,457Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±2.2Highest 8% above MA	42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA
	Leominster and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Leominster and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pittsfield and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	34.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pittsfield and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,816±$7kHighest 19% below MA	$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$380,400±$14kHighest 32% below MA	$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,354±$50Highest 23% below MA	$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,256Highest 12% below MA	$4,148Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Pittsfield and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Lowest MA: 10%	14.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	62.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 10% below MA	19 minLowest 36% below MA
Work from home	10.9%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Leominster 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	#233 of 282 in MA	#251 of 282 in MA
School district	Leominster	Pittsfield
High school in town	Leominster High School	Taconic High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Highest	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.