Compare towns

Petersham vs Westhampton vs Leyden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Westhampton has the most kids (18% 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.

MeasurePetershamWesthamptonLeyden
People
Population
1,185
1,552Highest
637Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
56.3±2.7Highest
41% above MA
49.3±4.9Lowest
23% above MA
53.2±8.2
33% above MA
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
MA: 19.4%
18%±4.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.8%±3.6
MA: 19.4%
Westhampton 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
MA: 17.9%
25.4%±2.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
28.6%±2.7
MA: 17.9%
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%
MA: 47.3%
47%Highest
MA: 47.3%
40%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
0.5%±2.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Petersham and Westhampton 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
$100,000±$7kLowest
4% below MA
$105,893±$13k
about the MA average
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±$20k
30% below MA
$413,200±$24kHighest
26% below MA
$372,900±$24kLowest
34% below MA
Westhampton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,679±$441
5% below MA
$1,304±$229Lowest
26% below MA
$1,917±$451Highest
9% above MA
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
23% below MA
$6,476Highest
8% above MA
$4,651
22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±53.5
MA: 51.8%
42.9%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
Leyden and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%
MA: 10%
6.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
91.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
93.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962Lowest
2 yrs older than MA
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
32% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
33 min
12% above MA
Work from home
16.2%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.1%±4
MA: 18.6%
11%±5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Petersham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Petersham Hampshire · Westhampton —
High school in town None in town Hampshire Regional High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.0
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.