Compare towns
Rowe vs Petersham vs Heath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Petersham has the most expensive homes ($392k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Rowe | Petersham | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 453Lowest |
1,185Highest |
765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4Lowest 22% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
| Petersham and Heath 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% |
13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±8.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Petersham 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% 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 |
$4,438 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Heath and Petersham 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% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
35 minLowest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Petersham 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 | 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.