What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).

Pittsfield has the most people working from home (10.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Webster	Pittsfield
People
Population	12,228Lowest	43,457Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA	42.4±2Highest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%	17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Webster and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pittsfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	34.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pittsfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA	$70,582±$5kHighest 32% below MA
	Pittsfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$333,100±$14kHighest 41% below MA	$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,198±$85Highest 32% below MA	$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA
	Webster and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,234Lowest 46% below MA	$4,148Highest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Pittsfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest MA: 10%	14.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	62.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	19 minLowest 36% below MA
Work from home	7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.2%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Pittsfield and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA	#251 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Pittsfield
High school in town	—	Taconic High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.3
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.