Compare towns
Heath vs Erving vs Warwick vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Erving has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
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 | Heath | Erving | Warwick | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765Lowest |
1,703Highest |
776 |
1,185 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Petersham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Erving and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Petersham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Petersham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
| Petersham and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,367±$163 22% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$4,636Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Erving and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
39 min 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Erving | Warwick | Petersham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.