Compare towns
Athol vs Petersham vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($249k median).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Athol | Petersham | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
1,185Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Petersham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Petersham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Athol 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | — | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Petersham | Webster |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.