What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worthington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Petersham has the highest household income ($111k).

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	Worthington	Petersham
People
Population	1,021Lowest	1,185Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	61.6±3.6Highest 54% above MA	56.3±2.7Lowest 41% above MA
	Worthington and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Worthington and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.5%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Worthington and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Petersham and Worthington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,667±$17kLowest 12% below MA	$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA
	Petersham and Worthington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$380,400±$26kLowest 32% below MA	$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA
	Petersham and Worthington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$633±$220Lowest 64% below MA	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,443Highest 9% below MA	$4,636Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±63Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Worthington and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 41% above MA	39 minLowest 32% above MA
Work from home	28.2%±12.9Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Worthington and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Worthington	Petersham
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.