Compare towns
Worcester vs Petersham vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Millbury has the most expensive homes ($450k median).
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 | Worcester | Petersham | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
1,185Lowest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Millbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
| Millbury and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$450,100±$19kHighest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Petersham and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,406Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Millbury 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% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Millbury 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 | — | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Petersham | Millbury |
| High school in town | South High Community | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.