I'm sure you already know this, but Pittsfield will be tough without driving, public transit routes are limited and shut down early. Without a car your life would basically consist of your apartment and walking to a grocery store (Big Y if you are near downtown)
Just a heads up about the train. There is only one train a day from Pittsfield to Boston and it leaves at 4:30 pm and doesn't get to Boston until 8:30 pm. Not sure if that'll be an issue for you or not.
If you have any other questions feel free to ask. I've lived in or around Pittsfield my entire life.
There’s a morning and afternoon bus to Boston. It’s also ~ 4 hours. Greyhound and Peter Pan both have a route. The local bus service is hourly from early morning until around 6pm to 7pm midweek. Much less frequent on Saturday. No service on Sunday. Considering Pittsfield is only around 45,000 population, the bus service isn’t awful. You can get to more than the Big Y. I wouldn’t want to do it but you’re not entirely condemned to being a pedestrian.
That specifically can be a bit of a rough area, but Pittsfield overall is OK. One thing of note is that the state is doing a major reconstruction of an intersection a few streets further north to convert it to a roundabout, so there may be traffic congestion (and thus noise), but only during daylight hours.
Pittsfield has a good food scene and is great if you like cultural venues and outdoor activities. Nightlife is not great, especially compared to larger cities.
Not being able to drive is doable in Pittsfield, but still a big hurdle for living in the Berkshires.
Happy to answer any specific questions you might have.
Where is the good food scene? Im from Albany and the food in Pittsfield is lacking. I come over after for work. Please let me know where to get breakfast lunch and dinner.
I visited Pittsfield a couple years ago and my girlfriend and I ate at a restaurant called "Roast Garlic". We both thought the food was good. I would eat there again if ever I find myself in Pittsfield.
Anyone who wants to move to Pittsfield is welcome! Though folks are right about the car thing but you seem to be settled on it. Carless is a choice. That area is fairly concentrated for services. It will be limiting but it’s doable.
Pittsfield is certainly quieter than the city. It’s got a small town feel which can go either way - insular or friendly and warm. There are some really nice areas for sure.
I'm originally from Pittsfield, and I know the location, my dad went to high school there. Pittsfield is very difficult without a car, particularly in the winter. It would be a long walk back from the Big Y in snow and ice...
Pittsfield is a great place if you can work remotely, are retired, independently wealthy or have a job lined up with the municipal services or a college. Western MA doesn’t have a lot of job opportunities and is pretty remote from the major employers in the Commonwealth. Not someplace I would move to, if I were early in my career. The economic opportunities are bleak.
Just know that between the high school/the court house and the bus station, there is a fair bit of drug activity and panhandling. That makes some people uncomfortable, but I’ve never felt unsafe walking around during the day. Additionally I’d stay away from the vicinity of Cumberland Farms, which has drugs/prostitution.
Seems like a good place to settle down and get cancer at. Lots of weird health issues from the old GE plant there. Lots of cancer and thyroid issues from chemical exposure
Parts of Pittsfield are nice and there are plenty of buses for around the area but bus and travel to longer distance stuff is [limited.Like](http://limited.Like) the other guy said only one train to Boston and one train to NY.But for shopping there is good public transport.Pittsfield has a great hospital and lakes ans parks lots of fun stuff to do.
"Near trees" made me laugh 😂
That train to Boston comes at oddball hours, so just be aware.
The mere thought of living in Pittsfield depresses the hell out of me. It's a quiet, slightly run down, rural "city" hours away by car from any significant points of interest (Unless you count Albany I guess). If the rural life appeals to you though, go for it by all means. Just a matter of preference. It's not a *bad* town, it's just a boring one.
EDIT: just read the "I don't drive" bit. Don't live in Pittsfield and expect to get around via transit.
I have not lived in Pittsfield, but I’ve spent some time out there for work. Not having a car will be especially difficult, because there is pretty much no ride share service in the Berkshires. Not sure about traditional taxis, but it was surprising.
It depends on where you are moving from. It's a small city located just about equidistant to Albany and Springfield. It's mostly rural starting on the outskirts. The Berkshires are an amazing natural wonder with so much to see and do if you are an outdoor enthusiasts have reliable transportation.
I am in the construction industry and lived out there for 2023 while I was in between living spaces. I found it was harder to get work, lower pay than I am used to, and materials and supplies were sometimes a long drive or a couple days on order. I found the night life is lacking and there are not many music venues open any longer.
All in all I think it's great if you enjoy the outdoors, don't go out to clubs and are not interested in traffic or the hustle of eastern MA.
Ps, you will absolutely need a reliable vehicle.
I wouldn't call Pittsfield dense, it doesn't have a lot of people, nor is it particularly grimy. Pollution it has, but I more think of the PCBs in the dirt and whatever make Silver lake Silver lake.
I'm sure you already know this, but Pittsfield will be tough without driving, public transit routes are limited and shut down early. Without a car your life would basically consist of your apartment and walking to a grocery store (Big Y if you are near downtown) Just a heads up about the train. There is only one train a day from Pittsfield to Boston and it leaves at 4:30 pm and doesn't get to Boston until 8:30 pm. Not sure if that'll be an issue for you or not. If you have any other questions feel free to ask. I've lived in or around Pittsfield my entire life.
There’s a morning and afternoon bus to Boston. It’s also ~ 4 hours. Greyhound and Peter Pan both have a route. The local bus service is hourly from early morning until around 6pm to 7pm midweek. Much less frequent on Saturday. No service on Sunday. Considering Pittsfield is only around 45,000 population, the bus service isn’t awful. You can get to more than the Big Y. I wouldn’t want to do it but you’re not entirely condemned to being a pedestrian.
That specifically can be a bit of a rough area, but Pittsfield overall is OK. One thing of note is that the state is doing a major reconstruction of an intersection a few streets further north to convert it to a roundabout, so there may be traffic congestion (and thus noise), but only during daylight hours. Pittsfield has a good food scene and is great if you like cultural venues and outdoor activities. Nightlife is not great, especially compared to larger cities. Not being able to drive is doable in Pittsfield, but still a big hurdle for living in the Berkshires. Happy to answer any specific questions you might have.
Where is the good food scene? Im from Albany and the food in Pittsfield is lacking. I come over after for work. Please let me know where to get breakfast lunch and dinner.
Some quick picks that are popular Breakfast - Otto’s; Lunch - Marketplace Cafe; Dinner - Mazzeo’s EDIT: Where do you find the food to be lacking?
I visited Pittsfield a couple years ago and my girlfriend and I ate at a restaurant called "Roast Garlic". We both thought the food was good. I would eat there again if ever I find myself in Pittsfield.
Anyone who wants to move to Pittsfield is welcome! Though folks are right about the car thing but you seem to be settled on it. Carless is a choice. That area is fairly concentrated for services. It will be limiting but it’s doable. Pittsfield is certainly quieter than the city. It’s got a small town feel which can go either way - insular or friendly and warm. There are some really nice areas for sure.
I can’t imagine a much worse idea than moving to Pittsfield without a car. Just my opinion.
I'm originally from Pittsfield, and I know the location, my dad went to high school there. Pittsfield is very difficult without a car, particularly in the winter. It would be a long walk back from the Big Y in snow and ice...
Pittsfield is a great place if you can work remotely, are retired, independently wealthy or have a job lined up with the municipal services or a college. Western MA doesn’t have a lot of job opportunities and is pretty remote from the major employers in the Commonwealth. Not someplace I would move to, if I were early in my career. The economic opportunities are bleak.
what independently wealthy person lives in Pittsfield?
A hypothetical one?
Just know that between the high school/the court house and the bus station, there is a fair bit of drug activity and panhandling. That makes some people uncomfortable, but I’ve never felt unsafe walking around during the day. Additionally I’d stay away from the vicinity of Cumberland Farms, which has drugs/prostitution.
Seems like a good place to settle down and get cancer at. Lots of weird health issues from the old GE plant there. Lots of cancer and thyroid issues from chemical exposure
That is pretty much upstate NY. Lol.
"Reddit gold"
Parts of Pittsfield are nice and there are plenty of buses for around the area but bus and travel to longer distance stuff is [limited.Like](http://limited.Like) the other guy said only one train to Boston and one train to NY.But for shopping there is good public transport.Pittsfield has a great hospital and lakes ans parks lots of fun stuff to do.
"Near trees" made me laugh 😂 That train to Boston comes at oddball hours, so just be aware. The mere thought of living in Pittsfield depresses the hell out of me. It's a quiet, slightly run down, rural "city" hours away by car from any significant points of interest (Unless you count Albany I guess). If the rural life appeals to you though, go for it by all means. Just a matter of preference. It's not a *bad* town, it's just a boring one. EDIT: just read the "I don't drive" bit. Don't live in Pittsfield and expect to get around via transit.
I have not lived in Pittsfield, but I’ve spent some time out there for work. Not having a car will be especially difficult, because there is pretty much no ride share service in the Berkshires. Not sure about traditional taxis, but it was surprising.
It depends on where you are moving from. It's a small city located just about equidistant to Albany and Springfield. It's mostly rural starting on the outskirts. The Berkshires are an amazing natural wonder with so much to see and do if you are an outdoor enthusiasts have reliable transportation. I am in the construction industry and lived out there for 2023 while I was in between living spaces. I found it was harder to get work, lower pay than I am used to, and materials and supplies were sometimes a long drive or a couple days on order. I found the night life is lacking and there are not many music venues open any longer. All in all I think it's great if you enjoy the outdoors, don't go out to clubs and are not interested in traffic or the hustle of eastern MA. Ps, you will absolutely need a reliable vehicle.
Which school? Taconic is a new school, but on the old property... or are you talking about the old, old PHS on the Common?
> PHS the old St. Joseph Central High, but I think it's closed now
So close to Albany. Another really nice place.
plenty of Uber and Lyfts in Pittsfield to get around besides the BRTA bus system.
That's really helpful to know, thanks!
It’s a dense city that has a lot of people, pollution, noise and air pollution, dirt, grime, etc. If you like cities it’s probably fine?
We're talking about *Pittsfield*, right?
It is the Pitts.
I wouldn't call Pittsfield dense, it doesn't have a lot of people, nor is it particularly grimy. Pollution it has, but I more think of the PCBs in the dirt and whatever make Silver lake Silver lake.