Compare towns
Petersham vs Rowley vs Upton vs Leyden
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 oldest population (median age 56.3).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Leyden has the most affordable homes ($373k median).
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 | Rowley | Upton | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,185 |
6,251 |
8,189Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
| Petersham and Leyden 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Rowley 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%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Leyden 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest 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±$20k 7% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$105,893±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$372,900±$24kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Leyden and Petersham 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,651 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
93.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | — | #214 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Petersham | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.