Compare towns
Westfield vs Hull vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Hull has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
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 | Hull | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 40,378 |
10,138Lowest |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
42.4±2 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4 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+ | 18.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6k 16% below MA |
$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA |
$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,100±$11k 42% below MA |
$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,134±$61 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,746 21% below MA |
$6,089Highest about the MA average |
$4,148Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #197 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Westfield | — | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Westfield High | — | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
| 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.