What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).

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	Westminster
People
Population	1,185Lowest	8,374Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA	48.3±4.6Lowest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%	26%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Petersham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Petersham and Westminster 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	$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average
	Petersham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA	$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA
	Westminster and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,679±$441Lowest 5% below MA	$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA
	Westminster 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	$4,973Highest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Westminster 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%	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	87.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Petersham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#112 of 282 in MA
School district	Petersham	Ashburnham-Westminster
High school in town	None in town	Oakmont Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.