What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).

Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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	Ware	Pittsfield
People
Population	10,048Lowest	43,457Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA	42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA
	Ware and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ware and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	19.4%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ware and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24%Lowest MA: 47.3%	34.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pittsfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA	$70,582±$5kHighest 32% below MA
	Pittsfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$289,700±$28kHighest 48% below MA	$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA
	Ware and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA	$1,134±$61Highest 36% below MA
	Pittsfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,237Highest 29% below MA	$4,148Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ware and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.8%Lowest MA: 10%	14.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest about the MA average	19 minLowest 36% below MA
Work from home	12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%	10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ware 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	#267 of 282 in MA	#251 of 282 in MA
School district	Ware	Pittsfield
High school in town	Ware Junior/Senior High School	Taconic High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	9.3Lowest
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.