What stands out worked out from the figures below

Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Petersham	Webster
People
Population	1,185Lowest	2,227Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S.	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Webster 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 U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Petersham and Webster 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.	$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S.
	Petersham and Webster 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.	$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average
	Petersham and Webster 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.	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster 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 U.S.: 12.5%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	16.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Webster and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Petersham	Merrimack Valley 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.