Compare towns
Petersham vs Whitman vs Goshen
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 homeowners (94.2%).
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Goshen has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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 | Whitman | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185 |
15,295Highest |
915Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
58±5.8Highest 45% above MA |
| Goshen and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.4%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Goshen and Petersham 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% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Goshen and Whitman 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 |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$98,906±$10kLowest 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Whitman 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 |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$351,900±$25kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
| Whitman 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 |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$5,022 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±66.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.1%±7.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Goshen 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Petersham | Whitman-Hanson | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.