What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).

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	Webster	Petersham
People
Population	2,227Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.	56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%	12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Petersham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S.	$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Petersham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average	$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S.
	Petersham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.	$4,636Lowest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	94.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Webster and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Merrimack Valley 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.