Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Westfield 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Westfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Westfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,457Highest |
40,378 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±2 6% above MA |
39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westfield and Pittsfield 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% |
18.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.2% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
$87,753±$6k 16% below MA |
$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| Washington and Westfield 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 |
$325,100±$11k 42% below MA |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,134±$61Highest 36% below MA |
$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA |
— |
| Pittsfield and Westfield 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 |
$4,746Highest 21% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Pittsfield and Westfield 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% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.6% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
27 minHighest 9% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.2%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.6%±2.2Lowest 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 | #197 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pittsfield | Westfield | — |
| High school in town | Taconic High | Westfield High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.