What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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	Rowley
People
Population	1,185Lowest	6,251Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA	50±6.3Lowest 25% above MA
	Petersham and Rowley 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%	19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Rowley 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%	21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Rowley and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,750±$20kLowest 7% above MA	$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA
	Rowley and Petersham 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	$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA	$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA
	Petersham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,636Lowest 23% below MA	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Rowley 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%	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	28 minLowest 3% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Petersham and Rowley 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	—	#214 of 282 in MA
School district	Petersham	Triton
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.