What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).

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	New Salem	Petersham
People
Population	1,054Lowest	1,185Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±2.4Lowest 39% above MA	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA
	Petersham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.5%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	New Salem and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±6.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Petersham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Petersham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,688±$19kLowest 23% below MA	$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA
	Petersham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$359,000±$40kLowest 36% below MA	$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA
	Petersham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$88Lowest 32% below MA	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA
	Petersham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,509Lowest 25% below MA	$4,636Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	New Salem and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest MA: 10%	8.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 20% below MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	19.4%±8Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	New Salem 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.