Petersham, Massachusetts

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Worcester County

Population in July 2008: 1,288. Population change since 2000: +9.2%

Males: 648	(50.3%)
Females: 640	(49.7%)

Median resident age:	43.2 years
Massachusetts median age:	36.5 years

Zip codes: 01366.

Estimated median household income in 2007: $61,935 (it was $47,833 in 2000)

Petersham:	$61,935
Massachusetts:	$62,365

Estimated per capita income in 2007: $31,079

Petersham:	$31,079
Massachusetts:	$32,822

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $306,238 (it was $152,000 in 2000)

Petersham:	$306,238
Massachusetts:	$366,400

Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $359,355; Detached houses: $359,660; Townhouses or other attached units: $160,302; In 2-unit structures: $495,149; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $420,494; Mobile homes: $55,000
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Petersham, MA residents, houses, and apartments details

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Profiles of local businesses:
Colonial Hill Alpaca Farm
The Inn at Clamber Hill

Races in Petersham:

White Non-Hispanic (96.5%)
American Indian (1.7%)
Hispanic (1.1%)
Two or more races (1.0%)
Black (0.7%)

2008 cost of living index in Petersham: 118.6 (more than average, U.S. average is 100)

Recent posts about Petersham, Massachusetts on our local forum with over 700,000 registered users. Petersham is mentioned 12 times on our forum:

	Massachusett's Most Underutilized Attractions (34 replies)
	why so much east vs west in such a small state (27 replies)
	The Best Town Commons in Massachusetts (15 replies)
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	What Massachusetts Town Reminds You Most of Small-Town America? (10 replies)
	massachusetts nice,quaint,small towns (15 replies)

Latest news from Petersham, MA collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

Ancestries: English (26.2%), Irish (19.2%), German (11.8%), French (8.8%), Polish (6.7%), Swedish (5.8%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Incorporated in 1754

Elevation: 1080 feet

Land area: 54.2 square miles.

Population density: 24 people per square mile

(very low).

Petersham,MA real estate house value index trend

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For population 25 years and over in Petersham

High school or higher: 94.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 46.0%
Graduate or professional degree: 23.7%
Unemployed: 6.6%
Mean travel time to work: 29.6 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Petersham town

Never married: 17.7%
Now married: 63.3%
Separated: 1.2%
Widowed: 9.6%
Divorced: 8.1%

62 residents are foreign born (2.5% North America, 2.2% Europe).

This town:	5.3%
Massachusetts:	12.2%

According to our research there was one registered sex offender living in Petersham, Massachusetts in early 2007.
The ratio of number of residents in Petersham to the number of sex offenders is 1288 to 1.

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000:

Petersham:	1.1% ($1,681)
Massachusetts:	1.3% ($2,336)

Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Worcester, MA (25.3 miles , pop. 172,648).

Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Boston, MA (58.3 miles , pop. 589,141).

Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Bronx, NY (141.6 miles , pop. 1,332,650).

Nearest cities: New Salem, MA (2.4 miles ), Barre, MA (2.6 miles ), Phillipston, MA (2.7 miles ), Athol, MA (2.8 miles ), Hardwick, MA (3.0 miles ), Orange, MA (3.0 miles ).

Single-family new house construction building permits:

1996: 7 buildings, average cost: $160,000
1997: 5 buildings, average cost: $166,400
1998: 8 buildings, average cost: $152,000
1999: 4 buildings, average cost: $150,000
2000: 5 buildings, average cost: $145,000
2001: 5 buildings, average cost: $121,400
2002: 17 buildings, average cost: $145,300
2003: 12 buildings, average cost: $155,400
2004: 13 buildings, average cost: $148,800
2005: 6 buildings, average cost: $231,900
2006: 6 buildings, average cost: $318,300
2007: 6 buildings, average cost: $208,100
2008: 3 buildings, average cost: $220,200

Number of permits per 10,000 residents

Average cost (in $1000s)

Latitude: 42.47 N, Longitude: 72.21 W

Area code: 978

This town's Wikipedia profile

Unemployment in May 2009:

Here:	6.6%
Massachusetts:	8.0%

Unemployment by year (%)

Most common industries for males (%):

Educational services (31%)
Construction (9%)
Professional, scientific, and technical services (8%)
Metal and metal products (7%)
Public administration (6%)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (4%)
Health care (4%)

Most common industries for females (%):

Educational services (26%)
Health care (18%)
Public administration (6%)
Professional, scientific, and technical services (4%)
Accommodation and food services (4%)
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations (4%)
Finance and insurance (3%)

Most common occupations for males (%)

Life and physical scientists (22%)
Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (7%)
Metal workers and plastic workers (4%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (4%)
Other production occupations including supervisors (3%)
Computer specialists (3%)
Engineers (3%)

Most common occupations for females (%)

Secretaries and administrative assistants (11%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (8%)
Life and physical scientists (7%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (6%)
Registered nurses (5%)
Postsecondary teachers (4%)
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (4%)

Full-time Law Enforcement Employees in 2006: 2 (2 officers).

Officers per 1,000 residents here:	1.55
US city average:	3.00

Average climate in Petersham, Massachusetts

Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Petersham, Massachusetts average temperatures

Petersham, Massachusetts average precipitation

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Petersham-area historical tornado activity is above Massachusetts state average. It is 30% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 6/9/1953, a category 4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 2.2 miles away from the Petersham town center killed 90 people and injured 1228 people and caused between $50,000,000 and $500,000,000 in damages.

On 6/22/1981, a category 3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 9.5 miles away from the town center injured 3 people and caused between $5000 and $50,000 in damages.

Petersham-area historical earthquake activity is near Massachusetts state average. It is 82% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 1/19/1982 at 00:14:42, a magnitude 4.7 (4.5 MB, 4.7 MD, 4.5 LG, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 77.4 miles away from Petersham center
On 10/2/1994 at 11:27:22, a magnitude 3.7 (3.5 LG, 3.7 LG, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 9.4 miles away from the city center
On 10/2/1994 at 14:36:36, a magnitude 3.3 (3.1 LG, 3.3 LG, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 7.9 miles away from the city center
On 6/16/2000 at 04:02:53, a magnitude 3.3 (3.3 LG, Depth: 6.1 mi) earthquake occurred 40.5 miles away from Petersham center
On 10/6/1992 at 15:38:04, a magnitude 3.4 (3.4 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 67.0 miles away from the city center
On 1/10/1999 at 10:52:16, a magnitude 3.1 (3.1 LG, 3.0 LG, Depth: 1.2 mi) earthquake occurred 67.6 miles away from Petersham center
Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), duration magnitude (MD)

Petersham topographic map

Hospitals/medical centers near Petersham:

ATHOL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 8 miles; ATHOL, MA)
HEYWOOD HOSPITAL (about 14 miles; GARDNER, MA)
UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES (about 15 miles; AMHERST, MA)

Political contributions by individuals in Petersham, MA

Amtrak station near Petersham:

17 miles: AMHERST (RAILROAD ST.). Services: enclosed waiting area, public payphones, free short-term parking, paid long-term parking, call for car rental service, call for taxi service, public transit connection.

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Petersham:

MOUNT WACHUSETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 14 miles; GARDNER, MA; Full-time enrollment: 2,023)
FITCHBURG STATE COLLEGE (about 23 miles; FITCHBURG, MA; FT enrollment: 3,660)
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS-AMHERST (about 23 miles; AMHERST, MA; FT enrollment: 21,468)
WORCESTER STATE COLLEGE (about 24 miles; WORCESTER, MA; FT enrollment: 3,846)
QUINSIGAMOND COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 25 miles; WORCESTER, MA; FT enrollment: 3,359)
SMITH COLLEGE (about 25 miles; NORTHAMPTON, MA; FT enrollment: 3,053)
WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE (about 25 miles; WORCESTER, MA; FT enrollment: 3,426)

Public elementary/middle school in Petersham:

PETERSHAM CENTER (Students: 125; Location: 2 SPRING STREET; Grades: Kindergarten Enrollment-6th grade Enrollment)

Private elementary/middle school in Petersham:

PETERSHAM MONTESSORI SCHOOLS (Students: 32; Location: 28 NEW SALEM ROAD; Grades: PK - KG)

See full list of schools located in Petersham

Library in Petersham:

PETERSHAM MEMORIAL LIBRARY (Operating income: $52,878; Location: 23 COMMON ST.; 19,539 books; 86 audio materials; 479 video materials; 56 serial subscriptions)

Click to draw/clear town borders

Notable location: Harvard Forest Administration Building (A). Display/hide its location on the map

Churches in Petersham include: Sisters of the Assumption Church (A), Saint Peters Church (B), Petersham Congregational Church (C). Display/hide their locations on the map

Cemeteries: Coolidge Cemetery (1), West Street Cemetery (2), Williams Cemetery (3), Northwest Cemetery (4), East Street Cemetery (5), Nichewaug Cemetery (6), Ledgeville Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map

Lakes, reservoirs, and swamps: Sunk Pond (A), Turtle Pond (B), Neeseponsett Pond (C), East Pond (D), Curtis Pond (E), Gauco Pond (F), Harvard Pond (G), Connor Pond (H). Display/hide their locations on the map

Streams, rivers, and creeks: Stony Brook (A), Moccasin Brook (B), Lorinda Brook (C), Rutland Brook (D), Nelson Brook (E), Silver Brook (F), Fever Brook (G). Display/hide their locations on the map

Drinking water stations with addresses in Petersham and their reported violations in the past:

SISTERS OF THE ASSUMPTION RESIDENCE (Address: 211 NORTH MAIN STREET, Population served: 45, Groundwater):

Past health violations:

MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In AUG-2004, Contaminant: Coliform

MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In APR-2004, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (JUL-19-2004)

Past monitoring violations:

CCR Complete Failure to Report - Between JUL-2002 and JAN-2003, Consumer Confidence Rule. Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (AUG-30-2002)

2 minor monitoring violations

72 regular monitoring violations

Average household size:

This town:	2.5 people
Massachusetts:	2.5 people

Percentage of family households:

This town:	68.3%
Whole state:	64.5%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners:

This town:	5.0%
Whole state:	5.4%

Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households)

Lesbian couples: 0.0% of all households
Gay men: 0.2% of all households

Residents with income below the poverty level in 2007:

This town:	5.8%
Whole state:	9.3%

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2007:

This town:	3.9%
Whole state:	4.4%

Detailed information about poverty and poor residents in Petersham, MA

People in group quarters in Petersham

69 people in religious group quarters
18 people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)
6 people in other nonhousehold living situations

Petersham compared to Massachusetts state average:

Median house value above state average.
Black race population percentage significantly below state average.
Hispanic race population percentage below state average.
Median age above state average.
Foreign-born population percentage above state average.
Renting percentage significantly below state average.
Number of rooms per house above state average.
Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher above state average.

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Educational Attainment

School Enrollment by Level of School

Most commonly used house heating fuel:
	Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (77%) Wood (18%) Bottled, tank, or LP gas (3%) Electricity (1%)

Religion statistics for Petersham

Adherents

Name	Catholic Church	United Church of Christ	Episcopal Church	United Methodist Church	Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Adherents	71.7%	4.4%	2.4%	2.0%	1.9%
Congregations	24.8%	13.9%	5.6%	6.6%	2.8%

Name	American Baptist Churches in the USA	Muslim Estimate	Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America	Seventh-Day Adventist Church	Other religions
Adherents	1.5%	1.3%	1.1%	1.1%	12.5%
Congregations	5.5%	0.6%	0.9%	3.0%	36.3%

Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Tables represent county-level data.

4.47% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($50,737 average adjusted gross income)

Here:	4.47%
Massachusetts average:	6.31%

0.14% of residents moved from foreign countries ($421 average AGI)
Worcester County: 0.14%
Massachusetts average: 0.28%

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:

from Middlesex County, MA	1.37% ($58,665 average AGI)
from Norfolk County, MA	0.29% ($58,509)
from Suffolk County, MA	0.18% ($52,994)

4.90% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($51,085 average adjusted gross income)

Here:	4.90%
Massachusetts average:	6.91%

0.08% of residents moved to foreign countries ($610 average AGI)
Worcester County: 0.08%
Massachusetts average: 0.11%

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:

to Middlesex County, MA	0.91% ($51,723 average AGI)
to Norfolk County, MA	0.25% ($49,788)
to Suffolk County, MA	0.22% ($45,031)

Strongest AM radio stations in Petersham:

WCRN (830 AM; 50 kW; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: CARTER BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
WVNE (760 AM; daytime; 25 kW; LEICESTER, MA; Owner: BLOUNT MASSCOM, INC.)
WNNZ (640 AM; 50 kW; WESTFIELD, MA; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)
WCAT (700 AM; daytime; 3 kW; ORANGE-ATHOL, MA; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)
WRKO (680 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)
WKOX (1200 AM; 50 kW; FRAMINGHAM, MA; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)
WEEI (850 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)
WALE (990 AM; 50 kW; GREENVILLE, RI; Owner: NORTH AMERICAN BROADCASTING CO., INC.)
WBIX (1060 AM; 40 kW; NATICK, MA; Owner: LANGER BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
WTAG (580 AM; 5 kW; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)
WARE (1250 AM; 5 kW; WARE, MA; Owner: SUCCESS SIGNAL BROADCASTING, INC.)
WAMG (890 AM; 25 kW; DEDHAM, MA; Owner: MEGA COMMUNICATIONS OF DEDHAM LICENSEE, LLC)
WTIC (1080 AM; 50 kW; HARTFORD, CT; Owner: INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.)

Strongest FM radio stations in Petersham:

WAHL (99.9 FM; ATHOL, MA; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)
WFCR (88.5 FM; AMHERST, MA; Owner: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS)
WAMH (89.3 FM; AMHERST, MA; Owner: TRUSTEES OF AMHERST COLLEGE)
WAAF (107.3 FM; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)
WSRS (96.1 FM; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)
W246AM (97.1 FM; AMHERST, MA; Owner: GREAT NORTHERN RADIO, LLC)
WFEX (92.1 FM; PETERBOROUGH, NH; Owner: FNX BROADCASTING OF NEW HAMPSHIRE LLC)
WXLO (104.5 FM; FITCHBURG, MA; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)
WHYN-FM (93.1 FM; SPRINGFIELD, MA; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)
WJDF (97.3 FM; ORANGE, MA; Owner: DEANE BROTHERS BROADCASTING CORP.)
WRNX (100.9 FM; AMHERST, MA; Owner: WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS RADIO COMPANY)
WAMC-FM (90.3 FM; ALBANY, NY; Owner: WAMC)
WPVQ (95.3 FM; GREENFIELD, MA; Owner: GREAT NORTHERN RADIO, L.L.C.)
WYRY (104.9 FM; HINSDALE, NH; Owner: TRI-VALLEY BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
WEQX (102.7 FM; MANCHESTER, VT; Owner: NORTHSHIRE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
WINQ (97.7 FM; WINCHENDON, MA; Owner: SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC)
WJAN (95.1 FM; SUNDERLAND, VT; Owner: 6 JOHNSON ROAD LICENSES, INC.)
WHDQ (106.1 FM; CLAREMONT, NH; Owner: GREAT NORTHERN RADIO, L.L.C.)
WVAY (100.7 FM; WILMINGTON, VT; Owner: GREAT NORTHERN RADIO, L.L.C.)
WOQL (98.7 FM; WINCHESTER, NH; Owner: SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, LLC)

TV broadcast stations around Petersham:

WYDN (Channel 48; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: EDUCATIONAL PUBLIC TV CORPORATION)
WUNI (Channel 27; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: ENTRAVISION HOLDINGS, LLC)
WUTF (Channel 66; MARLBOROUGH, MA; Owner: TELEFUTURA BOSTON LLC)
WCRN-LP (Channel 34; LEICESTER, MA; Owner: CARTER BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

Petersham, Massachusetts:

Fatal accident count: 8
Vehicles involved in fatal accidents: 12
Fatal accidents caused by drunken drivers: 3
Fatalities: 11
Persons involved in fatal accidents: 23
Pedestrians involved in fatal accidents: 0

Massachusetts average:

Fatal accident count: 88
Vehicles involved in fatal accidents: 122
Fatal accidents caused by drunken drivers: 29
Fatalities: 94
Persons involved in fatal accidents: 201
Pedestrians involved in fatal accidents: 10

See more detailed statistics of Petersham fatal car crashes and road traffic accidents for 1975 - 2008 here

National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics
Number of bridges: 4
Total length: 6 meters (20ft)
Total costs: $2,590,000
Total average daily traffic: 4,359
Total average daily truck traffic: 303
Total future (year 2027) average daily traffic: 6,884

FCC Registered Private Land Mobile Towers: 4

Town Hall Main St, Call Sign: KNED288, Licensee ID: L00038283
Assigned Frequencies : 151.040 MHz
Grant Date: 11/23/2002, Expiration Date: 10/28/2012
Registrant: City Of Petersham, South St, Petersham, MA 01366
Bombing Tower, Call Sign: KCB370, Licensee ID: L00003516
Assigned Frequencies : 39.5800 MHz
Grant Date: 09/09/2005, Expiration Date: 10/05/2015
Registrant: Massachusetts, Commonwealth Of, 470 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA 01702, Phone: (617) 727-6371
Town Hall Main St, Type: Building, Structure height: 12 m, Overall height: 15 m, Call Sign: WPIZ327
Assigned Frequencies : 39.7600 MHz
Grant Date: 09/13/2005, Expiration Date: 12/08/2015, Certifier: Lt Thomas Walsh
Registrant: Captain, 1270 Fairfield Rd, Gettysburg, PA 17325, Fax: (717) 334-9588
Lat: 42.483750 Lon: -72.192444, Call Sign: WPWV560, Licensee ID: L00038283
Assigned Frequencies : 72.1000 MHz
Grant Date: 01/24/2003, Expiration Date: 01/24/2013, Certifier: Rebecca Phillips
Registrant: Petersham Center School

FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses: 2

Call Sign: KA1DWM, Previous Call Sign: , Licensee ID: L00676347
Grant Date: 07/08/2003, Expiration Date: 09/21/2013
Registrant: Robert F Laford, 276 West Rd, Petersham, MA 01366
Call Sign: KB1ESS, Previous Call Sign: , Licensee ID: L00186624
Grant Date: 12/21/1999, Expiration Date: 12/21/2009, Certifier: Mark H Hager
Registrant: Mark H Hager, Petersham, MA 01366

FAA Registered Aircrafts: 2

Aircraft: CESSNA 152 (Fixed wing single engine, Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds), Engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 HP) (4 Cycle)
N-Number: 24908 , Serial Number: 15280445, Year manufactured: 1977, Airworthiness Date: 09/09/1977
Registrant (Individual): David H Davis, 95 Maple Ln, Petersham, MA 01366
Aircraft: CESSNA 172K (Fixed wing single engine, Category: Land, Seats: 4, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 105 mph), Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 HP) (4 Cycle)
N-Number: 7160G , Serial Number: 17258860, Year manufactured: 1969, Airworthiness Date: 11/19/1969
Registrant (Individual): Noel F Fisher, 42 New Athol Rd, Petersham, MA 01366

2006 National Fire Incident Reporting System Incidents:

Fire: 16
Hazardous Condition: 7

Incident types - Petersham

See Full 2006 National Fire Incident Reporting System Statistics for Petersham, MA

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