Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Douglas vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Pittsfield | Douglas | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,457Highest |
9,207 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
— |
| Douglas and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,148Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Pittsfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Washington 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 | #251 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pittsfield | Douglas | — |
| High school in town | Taconic High | Douglas High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.