Compare towns
Petersham vs Gardner vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Goshen has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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 | Petersham | Gardner | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185 |
21,148Highest |
915Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
58±5.8Highest 45% above MA |
| Goshen and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.4%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Goshen and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Goshen and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$98,906±$10k 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$351,900±$25k 37% below MA |
| Petersham and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636 23% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,022Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
60%±66.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Goshen and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.1%±7.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Goshen 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Petersham | Gardner | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.