What stands out worked out from the figures below

Petersham has the most kids (12.7% under 18).

Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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	Warwick
People
Population	1,185Highest	776Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	0%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA	51.4±7.3Lowest 29% above MA
	Petersham and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.7%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Petersham and Warwick 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%	23.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Petersham and Warwick 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%	40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Petersham and Warwick 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	$93,333±$22kLowest 10% below MA
	Petersham and Warwick 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	$349,400±$34kLowest 38% below MA
	Petersham and Warwick 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	$1,367±$163Lowest 22% below MA
	Petersham and Warwick 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	$4,380Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	33.3%±57.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Warwick 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%	5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	89%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minLowest 32% above MA	40 minHighest 37% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Warwick and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Petersham	Warwick
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.