This study focuses on the Neolithic walled towns of Fenghuangzui and Zoumaling in the middle Yangtze River valley, integrating archaeological findings, macro-observations of pottery-making, and chemical composition analysis of ceramics to examine the similarities and differences in vessel forms, raw materials (clay and tempering materials), forming techniques, surface decoration, and intended function. The results reveal that the pottery production technologies at both sites are highly similar, employing a combination of wheel-throwing and hand-forming, with consistent forming techniques and surface decorations. However, significant differences exist in raw material use and vessel innovation: Fenghuangzui potters demonstrate greater flexibility, producing more diverse vessel forms, while Zoumaling adheres to the pottery production and use traditions of the core area, reflecting stronger cultural conservatism. Both sites exhibit localized production, with household access to pottery unaffected by status differentiation. The study suggests that the core area enhances community cohesion through shared ideology and ritual activities, driving cultural expansion. During social complexity development, pottery not only met domestic functional needs but also served socio-political purposes (e.g., ritual activities or power symbolism) through specific forms, decorations, or contextual uses, yet its production and distribution were not subject to regional-level control. This finding provides a new perspective on the dynamics of social complexity in the Neolithic middle Yangtze River region, highlighting the unique relationship between pottery production and social structure.