Pittsfield vs Williamstown
Pittsfield, Massachusetts versus Williamstown, Massachusetts: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Williamstown edges out Pittsfield on overall objective livability (49 vs 42 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Pittsfield | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $67k | $111k |
| Cost of Living | $52k | $52k |
| Home Value | $220k | $459k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $12k | $745 |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.66% | 1.36% |
| Income Tax | 9.00% | 9.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 16.51% | 16.69% |
| Unemployment | 7.1% | 0.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 22°F | 23°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 69°F | 69°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2 in | 42.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 77.1 in | 52.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 186 days | 186 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 70 days | 71 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 65.9 | 60.5 |
| Air Quality | 50 AQI | 45 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 1138/100k | 943/100k |
| Property Crime | 1598/100k | 1129/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 43,730 | 4,498 |
| Median Age | 43.4 | 21.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.32 | 0.36 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 0.74 |
| Political Leaning | D+48 | D+48 |
| White (%) | 79.3% | 77.5% |
| Black (%) | 5.5% | 4.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 8.4% | 4.8% |
| Asian (%) | 1.3% | 6.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.5% | 7.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | — |
| Walkability | 13.6/20 | 10.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 46 mi | 59 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 88.2% | 93.9% |
| Amenities Nearby | 19.89 | 153.40 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | 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 Pittsfield or Williamstown more affordable?
- Williamstown has the lower cost of living: its index is $52k, compared with Pittsfield's $52k and Williamstown's $52k. Median rent is $1k in Pittsfield versus $1k in Williamstown.
- Is Pittsfield or Williamstown safer?
- Williamstown has the lower violent crime rate. Pittsfield reports 1138/100k and Williamstown reports 943/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Pittsfield or Williamstown?
- The median home value is $220k in Pittsfield and $459k in Williamstown, so homes are more affordable in Pittsfield.