Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Oakham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Washington has the most people working from home (12.9%).
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 | Oakham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,457Highest |
1,639 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham 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% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield and Oakham 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 |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Oakham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Oakham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
— |
| Oakham and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,148 31% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,381Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Pittsfield and Oakham 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.2%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Washington 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 | #251 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Pittsfield | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Taconic High | None in town | — |
| 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.