Compare towns
Goshen vs Middlesex vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goshen has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Petersham has the most expensive homes ($392k median).
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 | Goshen | Middlesex | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 915Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,185 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±5.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7 45% above U.S. |
| Goshen and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goshen and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Goshen and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,906±$10kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$25kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $869±$727Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,022 61% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,636Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±66.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goshen and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.1%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Petersham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.