What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).

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	Spencer	Petersham
People
Population	12,008Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Lowest 22% above MA	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA
	Petersham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Spencer and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Petersham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Spencer and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA	$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA
	Petersham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA	$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA
	Petersham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA
	Petersham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,387Lowest 27% below MA	$4,636Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Spencer and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest MA: 10%	8.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 18% above MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Petersham and Spencer 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	#261 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Petersham
High school in town	David Prouty High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9	—
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.