Compare towns
Ashfield vs Upton vs Petersham vs Truro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
Truro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.5%).
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 | Upton | Petersham | Truro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,893 |
8,189Highest |
1,185Lowest |
1,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+22.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4 47% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
64.1±5.8Highest 60% above MA |
| Truro 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
45.6%±10.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Truro and Ashfield 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
57.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±5.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Truro 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$118,984±$72k 14% above MA |
| Upton and Truro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA |
$888,200±$117kHighest 58% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200 38% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 | $5,197 13% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$3,997Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Truro and Ashfield 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.2%±22.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Truro 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Petersham | Truro |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.