Compare towns
Petersham vs Troy vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Troy has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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.
| Measure | Petersham | Troy | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185 |
2,005Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
40.2±5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Troy and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest 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. |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Leyden 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. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441 19% above U.S. |
$1,024±$331Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| 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 49% above U.S. |
$5,229Highest 68% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.1%±27.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham and Leyden 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 | 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.