What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

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	Troy	Petersham
People
Population	2,005Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±5Lowest 3% above U.S.	56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Troy and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,871±$14kLowest 10% above U.S.	$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Petersham and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,600±$39kLowest 20% below U.S.	$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,024±$331Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S.
	Petersham and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,229Highest 68% above U.S.	$4,636Lowest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.1%±27.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Troy and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.
Work from home	10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Petersham and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	Petersham
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.