Compare towns
Goshen vs Petersham vs Heath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goshen has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Petersham | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 915 |
1,185Highest |
765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±5.8Highest 45% above MA |
56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
53.8±11.9Lowest 35% 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%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Heath and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Goshen 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% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest 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±$10k 5% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$98,750±$23kLowest 5% below 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±$25k 37% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% 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 |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±66.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Goshen and Heath 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% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.1%±7.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Goshen 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 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.