Compare towns
Petersham vs Westminster 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%).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Leyden has the most affordable homes ($373k median).
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 | Westminster | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185 |
8,374Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
48.3±4.6Lowest 21% 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% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
26%±5.7Lowest 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% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest 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±$22k about the MA average |
$105,893±$13kLowest 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±$20k 30% below MA |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
$372,900±$24kLowest 34% 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±$268 5% above MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Leyden and Westminster 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 |
$4,651 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest 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 | 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.