What stands out worked out from the figures below

Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).

Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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	Spencer
People
Population	1,185Lowest	12,008Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA	48.9±6.8Lowest 22% above MA
	Petersham and Spencer 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%	16.4%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Spencer 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%	26%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Petersham and Spencer 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%	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Spencer 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±$20kHighest 7% above MA	$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA
	Petersham and Spencer 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	$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA
	Petersham and Spencer 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	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA
	Petersham and Spencer 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	$4,387Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Spencer and Petersham 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%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	34 minLowest 18% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Petersham and Spencer 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	—	#261 of 282 in MA
School district	Petersham	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	None in town	David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.9
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.