What stands out worked out from the figures below

Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).

Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).

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	Petersham	Oakham
People
Population	1,185Lowest	1,639Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-2.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA	49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Oakham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%	21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Petersham and Oakham 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	$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average
	Petersham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA	$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA
	Oakham and Petersham 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	$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA
	Petersham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,636Highest 23% below MA	$4,103Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±69.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Oakham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 min 32% above MA	39 min 32% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Petersham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Petersham	Quabbin
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.