What are the schools like in Petersham, MA?

Petersham is served primarily by Petersham. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.4:1.

What is the median household income in Petersham?

The median household income in Petersham, MA is $76,328 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.4%.

What is the weather like in Petersham, MA?

Petersham has an average high temperature of 33.4°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 42.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 60.4 inches.

Petersham, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Petersham, MA affordable or expensive?

Petersham's cost of living index is 105, where 100 represents the national average. This means Petersham is 5% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $356,100 and the median rent is $1,458 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Petersham, MA?

Petersham has a violent crime rate of 121.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 303.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Petersham, MA a Good Place to Live?

Petersham is a small town of 275 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $76,328 and a 1.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 105 (US average = 100), which is 5% above the national average.

Strengths: Petersham stands out for solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Petersham is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Petersham city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 105.4

Petersham's overall cost of living index is 105.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Petersham costs roughly 5% more than the average American city.

Metric	Petersham, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$356,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,458	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	90.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$76,328	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Petersham's violent crime rate is 121.6 per 100,000 residents — 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

121.6 /100k

Property Crime

303.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Petersham is served primarily by Petersham. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Petersham, MA	National Avg
School District	Petersham	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Petersham sees average highs of 33.4°F in January and 83.7°F in July, with 42.2 inches of annual precipitation and 60.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Petersham, MA
Average High — January	33.4°F
Average High — July	83.7°F
Annual Precipitation	42.2"
Annual Snowfall	60.4"

Demographics

Metric	Petersham, MA	National Avg
Population	275	—
Median Age	55.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	8.4%	22.2%
65 and over	29.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Barre, MA 6 mi Athol, MA 7 mi Orange, MA 10 mi Baldwinville, MA 10 mi Gardner, MA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Petersham

Petersham, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

01366

Petersham vs Other Cities

Petersham, MA vs Barre, MA Petersham, MA vs Athol, MA Petersham, MA vs Orange, MA Petersham, MA vs Baldwinville, MA Petersham, MA vs Gardner, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Petersham, MA affordable or expensive?

Petersham's cost of living index is 105, where 100 is the national average. That puts Petersham roughly 5% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $356,100 and median rent is $1,458/month.

What is the crime rate in Petersham, MA?

Petersham's violent crime rate is 121.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 303.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Petersham?

Public schools in Petersham are operated by Petersham. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1. 43.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Petersham, MA a good place to live?

Petersham, MA has a population of 275, a median household income of $76,328, and an unemployment rate of 1.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Petersham?

Petersham averages 33.4°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.2 inches with about 60.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Petersham?

Petersham, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 01366.

What is the population of Petersham?

The population of Petersham, Massachusetts is 275 with a median age of 55.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Petersham?

Key numbers for living in Petersham: cost of living index 105 (100 = US average), median home $356,100, median household income $76,328, crime index 25 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Petersham side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.