What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pittsfield has the highest household income ($71k).

Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

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

Measure	Pittsfield	Springfield
People
Population	43,457Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±2Highest 6% above MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Springfield and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,582±$5kHighest 32% below MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,900±$8kHighest 54% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
	Pittsfield and Springfield 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	$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA
	Springfield and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,148Highest 31% below MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.9%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 36% below MA	20 minHighest 31% below MA
Work from home	10.2%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Pittsfield and Springfield 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	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Pittsfield	Springfield
High school in town	Taconic High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	12.2Highest
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.