What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westhampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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	Westhampton	Petersham
People
Population	1,552Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±4.9Lowest 23% above MA	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA
	Petersham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Westhampton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Petersham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Petersham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA	$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA
	Petersham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,200±$24kHighest 26% below MA	$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA
	Westhampton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,304±$229Lowest 26% below MA	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA
	Petersham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,476Highest 8% above MA	$4,636Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±53.5Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Westhampton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	14.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Petersham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hampshire · Westhampton	Petersham
High school in town	Hampshire Regional High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0	—
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.