What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rowe has the most kids (23% 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	Rowe
People
Population	1,185Highest	453Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA	48.9±6.4Lowest 22% above MA
	Petersham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	23%±5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%	30.2%±8.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Petersham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Petersham and Rowe 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	$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA	$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA	$1,313±$576Lowest 25% below MA
	Petersham and Rowe 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	$1,458Lowest 76% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Petersham and Rowe 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%	15.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	90.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	36 minLowest 22% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Petersham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Petersham	Rowe
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.