What stands out worked out from the figures below

Goshen has the shortest commute (31 min average).

Petersham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Goshen	Petersham
People
Population	915Lowest	1,185Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58±5.8Highest 45% above MA	56.3±2.7Lowest 41% above MA
	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 MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Petersham and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	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%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Goshen and Petersham 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 5% below MA	$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA
	Petersham and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$351,900±$25kLowest 37% below MA	$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA
	Petersham and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$869±$727Lowest 51% below MA	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA
	Petersham and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,022Highest 16% below MA	$4,636Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±66.5Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	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 MA: 10%	8.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	19.1%±7.2Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Goshen and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Petersham
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.