Compare towns
Ashfield vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 58.6).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
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 | Needham | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893 |
32,459Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197 13% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Ashfield 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.