Compare towns
Westfield vs Upton 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 the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Upton | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 40,378 |
8,189Lowest |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.4±2 6% above MA |
| Upton 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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 MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6k 16% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,100±$11k 42% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$60 37% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 | $4,746 21% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,148Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #197 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Westfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Westfield High | Blackstone Valley | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.2 |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.