Northampton vs Pittsfield
Northampton, Massachusetts versus Pittsfield, Massachusetts: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Northampton and Pittsfield score about the same overall (46 vs 44 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Northampton | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $81k | $67k |
| Cost of Living | $56k | $52k |
| Home Value | $388k | $220k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.37% | 1.66% |
| Income Tax | 9.00% | 9.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 17.61% | 16.51% |
| Unemployment | 5.6% | 7.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 22°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 69°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.8 in | 44.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5 in | 77.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 185 days | 186 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 78 days | 70 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 28.6 | 65.9 |
| Air Quality | 46 AQI | 50 AQI |
| School Quality | 95.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 1238/100k | 1138/100k |
| Property Crime | 1252/100k | 1598/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 28,245 | 43,730 |
| Median Age | 42.5 | 43.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.27 | 0.32 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.74 | 0.99 |
| Political Leaning | D+48 | D+48 |
| White (%) | 82.0% | 79.3% |
| Black (%) | 2.1% | 5.5% |
| Hispanic (%) | 7.9% | 8.4% |
| Asian (%) | 3.7% | 1.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.3% | 5.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 21 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 11.4/20 | 13.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 27 mi | 46 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.9% | 88.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 50.63 | 19.89 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Northampton or Pittsfield more affordable?
- Pittsfield has the lower cost of living: its index is $52k, compared with Northampton's $56k and Pittsfield's $52k. Median rent is $1k in Northampton versus $1k in Pittsfield.
- Is Northampton or Pittsfield safer?
- Pittsfield has the lower violent crime rate. Northampton reports 1238/100k and Pittsfield reports 1138/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Northampton or Pittsfield?
- The median home value is $388k in Northampton and $220k in Pittsfield, so homes are more affordable in Pittsfield.