What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).

Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).

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	Rowe	Petersham
People
Population	453Lowest	1,185Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.2% MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.4Lowest 22% above MA	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA
	Petersham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	30.2%±8.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Petersham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Petersham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA	$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA	$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,313±$576Lowest 25% below MA	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA
	Petersham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,458Lowest 76% below MA	$4,636Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Petersham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.8%Highest MA: 10%	8.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 22% above MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Petersham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rowe	Petersham
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.