Living in Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Pittsfield is the county seat of Berkshire County and the largest city in Western Massachusetts west of Springfield, set in a valley where the east and west branches of the Housatonic River meet. It was settled as a town in 1761, named for British statesman William Pitt, and incorporated as a city in 1891. Downtown Pittsfield's theaters, museum and restaurants sit along North and South Streets, with Onota Lake and Pontoosuc Lake on the city's west and north sides.

Downtown Pittsfield Morningside Allendale

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated September 25, 2026

Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0

Pittsfield at a glance

$17.50Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
$5,518Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
60-70 minDrive to Springfield
BerkshireCounty

Pittsfield's villages and zip codes

Pittsfield's main ZIP code is 01201.

Pittsfield villages and zip codes
Area	Zip code	Where it is
Downtown Pittsfield	01201	The city center along North and South Streets, where City Hall, the Colonial Theatre, Berkshire Museum and most restaurants are located.
Morningside	01201	A residential neighborhood northeast of downtown, named for the Morningside Community School.
Allendale	01201	A residential section on the city's east side, near the Allendale School and shopping plaza.

Things to do in Pittsfield, MA

Start with Colonial Theatre and Berkshire Museum, then 4 more below.

Colonial Theatre
An 1903 theater restored in 2006 at a cost of more than $22 million, now hosting touring musicians, comedians and theatrical performances. Regarded for its acoustics.
Year-round
111 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
Plan a visit
Berkshire Museum
A museum of art, natural history and ancient civilizations in downtown Pittsfield, with rotating exhibits and an aquarium.
Year-round
39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
Plan a visit
Barrington Stage Company
A professional theater company with a season of plays and musicals in downtown Pittsfield.
Seasonal
30 Union Street, Pittsfield, MA
Plan a visit
Wahconah Park
A municipally owned baseball stadium built in 1919, home to summer collegiate and independent-league baseball.
Seasonal
105 Wahconah Street, Pittsfield, MA
Pittsfield State Forest
An 11,000-acre state forest with hiking and cross-country ski trails, a swimming beach, and the Balance Rock and Berry Pond areas.
FreeYear-round
1041 Cascade Street, Pittsfield, MA
Plan a visit
Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary
A Mass Audubon sanctuary along the Housatonic River with walking trails through meadows and wetlands.
FreeYear-round
472 West Street, Pittsfield, MA
Plan a visit

More worth a visit

Beacon CinemaA multi-screen movie theater in downtown Pittsfield.
Hebert ArboretumA small downtown arboretum near the Berkshire Athenaeum.

A little history

Pittsfield was named in 1761 by Royal Governor Sir Francis Bernard for British statesman William Pitt, and was incorporated as a city in 1891.

General Electric operated a major transformer and ordnance manufacturing plant in Pittsfield for most of the 20th century; the plant's founder, William Stanley Jr., built one of the first practical electric transformers in the city.

On September 3, 1902, the carriage carrying President Theodore Roosevelt collided with a trolley in Pittsfield, killing Secret Service agent William Craig, the first agent killed on a presidential protection detail.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Pittsfield

Onota Lake, Pontoosuc Lake and Pittsfield State Forest give the city lake and forest recreation within city limits, and the Housatonic River runs through the valley.

Pittsfield State ForestHiking, mountain biking and cross-country ski trails on 11,000 acres, with a beach at Berry Pond nearby in Hancock.More information
Onota LakeA lake on the city's west side with a public beach, boat launch and Burbank Park.
Pontoosuc LakeA lake on the city's north side with a public beach and boat launch, and a paved path along its shore.
Canoe Meadows Wildlife SanctuaryA Mass Audubon sanctuary with trails through river floodplain and meadow habitat.More information

Where to eat in Pittsfield: restaurants and coffee

4 places in Pittsfield to try, including brewery and restaurant and coffee shop. No one paid to be listed.

Hot Plate Brewing Co.
Brewery and restaurant
A brewery and restaurant in downtown Pittsfield.
Dottie's Coffee Lounge
Coffee shop
A downtown coffee shop serving coffee and baked goods.
IZTAC Mexican Restaurant
Mexican restaurant
A downtown restaurant serving Mexican food and a bar.
House of India
Indian restaurant
A downtown restaurant serving Indian cuisine.

Walkability and getting around Pittsfield

Downtown Pittsfield has sidewalks connecting City Hall, the theaters, the museum and most restaurants within a few blocks, but residential neighborhoods and the lakes on the city's edges are built for driving.

Downtown Pittsfield

70 Allen Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Drive times

Springfield, about 48 miles60-70 min
Albany International Airport, about 39 miles45-55 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) operates local bus routes through Pittsfield from the Intermodal Center downtown. The seasonal Amtrak Berkshire Flyer stops in Pittsfield on Fridays and Sundays in summer, connecting directly to New York Penn Station via the Hudson Valley without a transfer.

Pittsfield property taxes

Pittsfield's FY2026 residential tax rate is $17.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $36.90. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,750 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $5,518, on an average assessed value of $315,335.

Pittsfield's FY2026 tax rates

$17.50per $1,000, residential

Residential$17.50 per $1,000
Commercial, industrial, personal property$36.90 per $1,000
Average single-family assessed value$315,335
Average single-family tax bill$5,518
Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal year	Residential rate
FY2022	$18.56
FY2023	$18.32
FY2024	$18.45
FY2025	$17.94
FY2026	$17.50

Look up a Pittsfield property

FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
City ClerkVital records and town records
Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 413-395-0102
Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county

Buying a home in Pittsfield

What we check on a Pittsfield purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, housatonic river cleanup, smoke certificate.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Berkshire County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans

Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

The east and west branches of the Housatonic River meet in Pittsfield, putting low-lying parcels near the river in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Pittsfield

Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Pittsfield Fire Department before the sale closes.

Housatonic River cleanup

Parts of the Housatonic River corridor are an EPA cleanup site

Sections of the Housatonic River, its floodplain and some adjoining land in Pittsfield were contaminated with PCBs from the former General Electric plant and are part of an ongoing EPA-supervised cleanup. Buyers considering a property near the river corridor should ask about a parcel's history.

EPA site history

Smoke certificate

Smoke and CO certificate needed before closing

Massachusetts sellers need a smoke and carbon monoxide detector certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close. In Pittsfield, that inspection is scheduled through the Fire Department.

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.

Thinking about buying in Pittsfield?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Pittsfield address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan options Our process

Moving to Pittsfield: utilities, trash and city hall

Who to call in Pittsfield: Eversource for power.

ElectricEversource
Natural gasBerkshire Gas Company serves parts of the city; some areas have no natural gas service
WaterCity of Pittsfield Department of Public Works, Water Division, a municipal utility
Sewer or septicCity of Pittsfield DPW provides municipal sewer service across most of the city; some outlying parcels may rely on septic systems.
Trash and recyclingPittsfield provides curbside collection through a contract with Casella Waste Management: each household gets a 48-gallon trash cart and a 48-gallon recycling cart at no charge. An extra trash cart costs $40 per quarter, and bulky-item stickers cost $20 each.
Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV

City Hall offices and contacts

Pittsfield City Hall is at 70 Allen Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4 PM. Main line: 413-449-5600.

Pittsfield, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Pittsfield, MA?

Pittsfield's FY2026 residential tax rate is $17.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $36.90. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Pittsfield?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $7,000 a year at $17.50 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Pittsfield have a split tax rate?

Yes. Homes pay $17.50 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $36.90.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Pittsfield?

The average single-family tax bill in Pittsfield was $5,518 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $315,335.

Is trash pickup curbside in Pittsfield?

Yes. Pittsfield provides curbside trash and recycling carts through a contract with Casella Waste Management; an extra trash cart is $40 per quarter.

Who supplies electricity in Pittsfield?

Eversource is the electric utility serving Pittsfield.

What ZIP code does Pittsfield use?

Pittsfield's main ZIP code is 01201.

How far is Pittsfield from Springfield?

Pittsfield is about 48 miles from Springfield, roughly a 60-70 minute drive.

Is there train service from Pittsfield?

The seasonal Amtrak Berkshire Flyer connects Pittsfield to New York Penn Station on Fridays and Sundays in summer, via the Hudson Valley.

Which towns border Pittsfield?

Pittsfield borders Lanesborough, Dalton, Washington, Lenox, Richmond and Hancock, all in Massachusetts.

Towns near Pittsfield

Neighbors of Pittsfield, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources

Pittsfield, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
City of Pittsfield, MA - official website: pittsfieldma.gov
Trash & Recycling - City of Pittsfield: pittsfieldma.gov
Water & Sewer - City of Pittsfield: pittsfieldma.gov
Fire Department - City of Pittsfield directory: pittsfieldma.gov
Health Department - City of Pittsfield directory: pittsfieldma.gov
Assessor's Office - City of Pittsfield directory: pittsfieldma.gov
Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
Berkshire Flyer - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
Downtown Pittsfield dining guide: downtownpittsfield.com
Pittsfield State Forest - Mass.gov: mass.gov
Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary - Mass Audubon: massaudubon.org
GE/Housatonic River Site - EPA: epa.gov
Pittsfield skyline photo, Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Checked September 25, 2026.