Compare towns
Ashfield vs Jackson vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Petersham has the youngest 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.
| Measure | Ashfield | Jackson | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893Highest |
897Lowest |
1,185 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4 51% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Petersham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Petersham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20k 37% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 20% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,679±$441 19% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197 67% above U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,636Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Jackson School District | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.