What stands out worked out from the figures below

Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).

Williamsburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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	Williamsburg
People
Population	1,185Lowest	2,694Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA	50±2.4Lowest 25% above MA
Kids under 18	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Williamsburg and Petersham 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%	22.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Petersham and Williamsburg 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%	60.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Williamsburg 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	$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average
	Petersham and Williamsburg 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	$403,100±$37kHighest 28% below MA
	Williamsburg and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA	$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA
	Petersham and Williamsburg 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	$5,761Highest 4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	61%±28Highest MA: 51.8%
	Williamsburg 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%	82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 32% above MA	25 minLowest 13% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Williamsburg and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Petersham	Williamsburg
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.