Compare towns
Petersham vs Westminster 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 highest household income ($111k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Phillipston has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185 |
497Lowest |
1,895Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.8±1.7 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,692±$14k 17% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Phillipston 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. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$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. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,375±$849 about the U.S. average |
| Petersham and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Phillipston 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Petersham 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Petersham | — | — |
| High school 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.