What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).

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.

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

Measure	Ashfield	Petersham
People
Population	1,893Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA	56.3±2.7Lowest 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%	12.7%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	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 MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA	$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA
	Petersham and Ashfield 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	$392,400±$20kLowest 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	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA
	Petersham and Ashfield 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	$4,636Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashfield and Petersham 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%	8.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	24%±6Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
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

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.