Compare towns
Wheelock vs Petersham vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Petersham has the most expensive homes ($392k median).
Sheffield has the youngest population (median age 42).
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.
| Measure | Wheelock | Petersham | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 717 |
1,185Highest |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
42±8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Wheelock and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheffield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20k 20% below U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37k 43% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$967±$79Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937 6% below U.S. |
$4,636Highest 49% above U.S. |
$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheffield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Petersham | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.