Pittsfield receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
North Adams
Pittsfield
Opportunity
29 · Bottom 6%
vs49 · Bottom 34%
Growth
42 · Bottom 36%
vs35 · Bottom 25%
Climate
59 · Bottom 12%
vs59 · Bottom 11%
Physical resilience
44 · Bottom 34%
vs44 · Bottom 34%
Housing affordability
83 · Top 46%
vs90 · Top 32%
Schools
27 · Bottom 19%
vs36 · Bottom 31%
Access
83 · Bottom 26%
vs83 · Bottom 27%
Economic stability
30 · Bottom 7%
vs51 · Bottom 33%
Measured values
| Metric | North Adams | Pittsfield | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,606 | 43,457 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $47,500 | $70,582 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,808 | $45,178 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 620/sq mi | 1,074/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $195,900 | $256,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $793 | $1,134 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 51.0% | 62.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.9% | -1.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.4% | 34.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.6% | 14.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 4 | 13 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.3 | 0.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 300.0% | -7.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 79°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 14°F | 14°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 42.3" | 44.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 35 mi | 34 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 20.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.1 | 42.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 10.32 | 10.22 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 14.6% | 18.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 28.5% | 34.3% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
North Adams
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, hurricane.
Pittsfield
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
North Adams
50
Your Score
47
Area Score
Pittsfield
56
Your Score
53
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: North Adams, MA · Pittsfield, MA · How this is calculated: methodology