What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

Petersham has the most kids (12.7% under 18).

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	Warwick	Petersham
People
Population	776Lowest	1,185Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±7.3Lowest 29% above MA	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA
	Petersham and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Petersham and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Petersham and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Petersham and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,333±$22kLowest 10% below MA	$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA
	Petersham and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$349,400±$34kLowest 38% below MA	$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA
	Petersham and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,367±$163Lowest 22% below MA	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA
	Petersham and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,380Lowest 27% below MA	$4,636Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±57.3Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Warwick and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 37% above MA	39 minLowest 32% above MA
Work from home	22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Warwick and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Warwick	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.