What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pittsfield has the most people working from home (28.1%).

Massena has the most affordable homes ($94k median).

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	Massena
People
Population	391Lowest	10,238Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±3.5Highest 38% above U.S.	42.6±4.7Lowest 10% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.6%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Massena and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pittsfield and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Massena and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,852±$12kHighest 18% below U.S.	$51,458±$7kLowest 36% below U.S.
	Pittsfield and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$313,300±$73kHighest 6% below U.S.	$94,400±$15kLowest 72% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,035±$140Highest 27% below U.S.	$722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,181Highest 66% above U.S.	$3,218Lowest 3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.6%±43Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Massena and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	24.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 27% below U.S.	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.
Work from home	28.1%±24.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pittsfield and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.