What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

Petersham has the most affordable homes ($392k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Acton	Petersham
People
Population	24,155Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA
Kids under 18	23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	79.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Acton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA	$110,750±$20kLowest 7% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA	$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA	$1,679±$441Lowest 5% below MA
	Acton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,636Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Acton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 19% above MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#13 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Acton-Boxborough	Petersham
High school in town	Acton-Boxborough Regional High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.