What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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	Westfield	Pittsfield
People
Population	40,378Lowest	43,457Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average	42.4±2Highest 6% above MA
	Pittsfield and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	17.6%±1.4Lowest 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%	19.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pittsfield and Westfield 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 MA: 47.3%	34.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,753±$6kHighest 16% below MA	$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,100±$11kHighest 42% below MA	$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA	$1,134±$61Highest 36% below MA
	Pittsfield and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,746Highest 21% below MA	$4,148Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Pittsfield and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%	14.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% below MA	19 minLowest 36% below MA
Work from home	8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.2%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Pittsfield and Westfield 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	#197 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 Our Story	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.