Compare towns
Windsor vs Petersham vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Chesterfield has the most kids (19.1% 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.
| Measure | Windsor | Petersham | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,065 |
1,185Highest |
1,055Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
44.3±7.6Lowest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±5.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chesterfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Petersham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$103,967±$11kLowest about the MA average |
| Windsor and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$390,800±$48k 30% below MA |
| Petersham and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,078±$409Lowest 39% below MA |
| Petersham and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$5,969Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
10.3%±84.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Petersham and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.2% MA: 62.5% |
92.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.4%±6.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Petersham | Chesterfield-Goshen |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.