What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).

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	Lancaster	Petersham
People
Population	8,606Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA
Kids under 18	19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lancaster and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Petersham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA	$110,750±$20kLowest 7% above MA
	Lancaster and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA	$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA	$1,679±$441Lowest 5% below MA
	Lancaster and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Highest 21% above MA	$4,636Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#145 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Nashoba	Petersham
High school in town	None 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.