Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Lancaster | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,457Highest |
8,606 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,148Lowest 31% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Pittsfield 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #251 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pittsfield | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | Taconic High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.