What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).

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	Pelham	Petersham
People
Population	1,335Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA
Kids under 18	21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Petersham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Petersham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA	$110,750±$20kLowest 7% above MA
	Pelham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA	$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA
	Petersham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,472Highest 25% above MA	$4,636Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±35.2Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Pelham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest MA: 10%	8.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
School district	Pelham	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.