What stands out worked out from the figures below

Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Heath	Petersham
People
Population	765Lowest	1,185Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±11.9Lowest 35% 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%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Lowest 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+	33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Lowest 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%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest 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±$23kLowest 5% 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±$45kLowest 48% below MA	$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,679±$441 5% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,438Lowest 26% below MA	$4,636Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Heath and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest MA: 10%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 20% above MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Heath 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 History	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.