What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

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	Troy
People
Population	1,185Lowest	2,005Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S.	40.2±5Lowest 3% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Troy 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 37% above U.S.	$88,871±$14kLowest 10% above U.S.
	Petersham and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S.	$266,600±$39kLowest 20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,024±$331Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Petersham and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,636Lowest 49% above U.S.	$5,229Highest 68% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.1%±27.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Troy 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Petersham and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Petersham	Monadnock Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.