What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).

Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).

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	Lee	Petersham
People
Population	5,719Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	55.2±5.8Lowest 38% above MA	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA
	Petersham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Petersham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Lee and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lee and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA	$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA
	Petersham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA	$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA
	Petersham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,980Lowest 34% below MA	$4,636Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lee and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest MA: 10%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 38% below MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lee and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#209 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Lee	Petersham
High school in town	Lee Middle/High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.2	—
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.