What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).

Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).

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	Ashburnham	Petersham
People
Population	6,415Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA
Kids under 18	22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ashburnham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA	$110,750±$20kLowest 7% above MA
	Ashburnham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA	$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA
	Petersham and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average	$1,679±$441Lowest 5% below MA
	Ashburnham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,046Highest about the MA average	$4,636Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashburnham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 10% above MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Petersham and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#178 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Ashburnham-Westminster	Petersham
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.