Compare towns
Leyden vs Petersham vs Upton vs Heath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leyden has the shortest commute (33 min average).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Leyden | Petersham | Upton | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 637Lowest |
1,185 |
8,189Highest |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
53.8±11.9 35% 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 | 13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest 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+ | 40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 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 | $105,893±$13k about the MA average |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$98,750±$23kLowest 5% below MA |
| Upton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
— |
| Leyden and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,651 22% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 12% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Upton 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Petersham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.