What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).

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	Worcester	Petersham
People
Population	207,055Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA	$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA	$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA
	Petersham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA
	Petersham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Highest 21% below MA	$4,636Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest MA: 10%	8.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 17% below MA	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Petersham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#266 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	Petersham
High school in town	South High Community	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6	—
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.