Compare towns
Ashfield vs Lee vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Lee | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893 |
5,719Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
55.2±5.8Lowest 38% above MA |
56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
| Ashfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Petersham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Petersham 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 22% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Petersham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Ashfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Lee 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Lee | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.