What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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	Needham	Pittsfield
People
Population	32,459Lowest	43,457Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA	42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA
	Needham and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pittsfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pittsfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA	$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA	$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA	$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,148Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	14.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	19 minLowest 36% below MA
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#251 of 282 in MA
School district	Needham	Pittsfield
High school in town	Needham High	Taconic High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	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.