Compare towns
Dudley vs Leyden vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Leyden has the most affordable homes ($373k median).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Dudley | Leyden | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
637Lowest |
1,185 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$105,893±$13k about the MA average |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$372,900±$24kLowest 34% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Dudley and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
| Leyden and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dudley and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Leyden 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Petersham |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.