What stands out worked out from the figures below

Glover has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

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	Glover	Petersham
People
Population	1,051Lowest	1,185Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.4±5.9Lowest 24% above U.S.	56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S.
	Petersham and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Petersham and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Glover and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,839±$18kLowest 9% below U.S.	$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Petersham and Glover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$264,700±$34kLowest 20% below U.S.	$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$973±$130Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S.	$4,636Highest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.3%±64.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Glover and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.	39 minLowest 46% above U.S.
Work from home	16.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Glover and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District	Petersham
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.