Compare towns
Petersham vs Whitman vs Phillipston
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%).
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Whitman | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
15,295Highest |
1,895 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.8±1.7 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Petersham 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 |
$94,692±$14kLowest 9% 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 |
$372,400±$27kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,375±$849Lowest 22% 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 | $4,636 23% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,914Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Whitman 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% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Whitman 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.