Pittsfield, MA
The numbers that matter most
What an investor checks first when sizing up a new metro — affordability ratio, rent vs income, cap rate proxy, and where the market is moving. Each metric shown vs. state and national medians for instant context.
moderate
Price to income
3.91×
The single most-cited 'is this market still cheap' check. Below 3× and you're in an affordability tailwind.
- vs Massachusetts
- 4.19×-0.28
- vs U.S.
- 3.43×
Benchmark
ACS median home value ÷ median HHI
moderate
Rent to income
28.3%
What share of a typical household's income goes to rent. Below 30% means tenants can absorb modest rent increases.
- vs Massachusetts
- 29.5%-1.2
- vs U.S.
- 23.3%
Benchmark
(HUD FMR 2BR × 12) ÷ median HHI
deal-by-deal
Cap rate proxy
4.70%
Rough first-pass yield assuming a 35% expense ratio. Not an underwriting number — a 'is this even worth modeling' filter.
- vs Massachusetts
- 4.32%+0.37
- vs U.S.
- 4.35%+0.35
Benchmark
(FMR 2BR × 12 × 0.65) ÷ ACS median home value
shrinking
Net migration
-0.09%
Forward-looking demand signal. Positive net migration drives rent growth and absorbs new supply.
- vs Massachusetts
- -0.09%=
- vs U.S.
- 0.03%
Benchmark
IRS net migration ÷ population
tight
Permit pipeline
0.97
permits per 1,000 residents
Forward-supply indicator. Above ~5 means the metro is building meaningfully relative to its size; below 2 means supply is tight.
- vs Massachusetts
- 1.64
- vs U.S.
- 3.52
Benchmark
Census BPS permits TTM ÷ population × 1,000
softening
Unemployment
4.9%
Tighter unemployment means higher wages, more rental demand, lower vacancy.
- vs Massachusetts
- 4.9%=
- vs U.S.
- 3.9%
Benchmark
BLS LAUS, latest month
Where prices are and where they've been
5-year price appreciation
+57.0%
homeValues.yearOverYear
+1.3%
Median home value
$283,800
The rent ladder
| Bedroom | Monthly | Annual | % of median HHI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 BR | $1,302 | $15,624 | 21.5% |
| 2 BR | $1,709 | $20,508 | 28.3% |
| 3 BR | $2,206 | $26,472 | 36.5% |
Labor market direction
Unemployment
4.9%
Median household income
$72,565
What's being built
Total TTM
125
+6.8% YoY
Single-family
114
2–4 unit
6
5+ unit
5
All 1 counties, ranked by population
| County | Population | Home value | Median HHI | Permits TTM | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire County | 128,763 | $283,800 | $72,565 | 125 | +6.8% |
Similar metros nationally
| Metro | Pop | Med HHI | P/I | Cap proxy | HPI 5y | Permits/1k | Unemp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★Pittsfield | 128,763 | $72,565 | 3.91× | 4.70% | +57.0% | 0.97 | 4.9% |
| Albany-Lebanon, OR | 128,598 | $73,396 | — | — | +46.2% | — | 5.3% |
| Ames, IA | 125,273 | $71,090 | — | — | +43.9% | — | 2.4% |
| Staunton, VA | 125,355 | $70,949 | — | — | +55.3% | — | 2.9% |
| Glens Falls, NY | 126,994 | $74,953 | — | — | +53.8% | — | 3.9% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 135,689 | $72,145 | — | — | +48.7% | — | 3.1% |
Where people are moving in from
Net migration
-118
-0.09% of population
| Origin county | Tax returns |
|---|---|
| Hampden County, MA | 100 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 95 |
| New York County, NY | 90 |
| Suffolk County, MA | 82 |
| Hampshire County, MA | 59 |
| Worcester County, MA | 55 |
Who lives in Pittsfield
- Median age
- 48
- Bachelor's+
- 38.3%
- Owner-occupancy
- 70.0%
- Vacancy rate
- 19.1%
- Rent burdened (30%+)
- 51.2%
- Median household income
- $72,565
This page shows federally sourced data. A full editorial analysis with charts and investment commentary is in progress.