Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Sutton vs Lanesborough
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 renters (37.2% rent).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Lanesborough has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Sutton | Lanesborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,457Highest |
9,452 |
3,028Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
51.2±4.4Highest 28% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Lanesborough 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±5.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lanesborough 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield and Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$86,219±$19k 17% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$299,400±$36k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,349±$199Highest 23% below MA |
| Lanesborough and Sutton 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,007 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±41.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Pittsfield and Lanesborough 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
95%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
22 min 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.2%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #251 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #75 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pittsfield | Sutton | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | Taconic High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.


