Compare towns
Westfield vs Epping vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westfield has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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.
| Measure | Westfield | Epping | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 40,378 |
7,430Lowest |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.4±2 9% above U.S. |
| Epping and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6k 9% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$70,582±$5kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,100±$11k about the U.S. average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$256,900±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,134±$61 20% below U.S. |
| Epping and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,746 52% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,148Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±5.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #197 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Westfield | Epping School District | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Westfield High | Epping High School | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.