What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Pittsfield	Sturbridge
People
Population	43,457Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge 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%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Pittsfield and Sturbridge 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	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA	$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA
	Sturbridge 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	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Pittsfield and Sturbridge 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 36% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#251 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Pittsfield	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Taconic High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Highest	7.7Lowest
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.