Pittsfield cost of living
Prices in the Pittsfield, MA metro area run at 95.1 against a national average of 100, ranking it #166 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 73.5.
What drives the number
Prices in Pittsfield run at 95.1 where the national average is 100, so about 4.9 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #166 of 387 metro areas. Against Massachusetts as a whole it is 10.7 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
Housing is unusually cheap relative to everything else here. Rents sit at 73.5 against goods at 97.0 and other services at 153.7, so the overall figure of 95.1 understates how affordable the housing itself is. Services, which are priced by local wages, are what hold the overall number up.
Low prices only help if pay does not fall by more. Dividing the local median wage by 95.1 is how to check, and the wage pages carry that comparison.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Pittsfield is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 2,560 | $39,140 | $41,157 | $34,900 |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,860 | $35,160 | $36,972 | $34,580 |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,570 | $96,620 | $101,598 | $102,950 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,400 | $34,010 | $35,762 | $30,480 |
| Registered Nurses | 1,280 | $101,840 | $107,087 | $93,600 |
| Cashiers | 1,260 | $33,900 | $35,647 | $31,190 |
| Office Clerks, General | 1,010 | $45,610 | $47,960 | $43,630 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,000 | $34,590 | $36,372 | $33,760 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 95.1.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | 108.3 | 148.4 | #19 |
| Worcester | 102.5 | 113.0 | #52 |
| Providence-Warwick | 101.8 | 103.9 | #59 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | 100.2 | 97.5 | #84 |
| Barnstable Town | 98.4 | 90.0 | #103 |
| Springfield | 96.1 | 75.8 | #144 |
Pittsfield: common questions
Is Pittsfield expensive?
Prices are 4.9% below the national average, a parity of 95.1 where the country is 100. It ranks #166 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Massachusetts as a whole it is 10.7 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Pittsfield?
The median worker there earns $49,970, which buys what $52,545 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 73.5 against goods at 97.0. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.