Compare towns
Petersham vs Worcester 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%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Phillipston has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Worcester | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185Lowest |
207,055Highest |
1,895 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
48.8±1.7 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$94,692±$14k 9% below MA |
| 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 30% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$372,400±$27kLowest 34% below MA |
| Petersham and Worcester 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 |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,375±$849Lowest 22% below MA |
| Petersham and Worcester 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 |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,914Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Worcester 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Petersham | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| 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.