Compare towns
Petersham vs Webster vs Phillipston
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 oldest population (median age 56.3).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Phillipston 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.
| Measure | Petersham | Webster | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
2,227Highest |
1,895 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
48.8±1.7 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Phillipston 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%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$94,692±$14kLowest 17% 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 |
$372,400±$27k 12% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$849Lowest 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 | $4,636 49% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Phillipston and Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest 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 | 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.