Dana Common Historic and Archaeological District · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Petersham is healthier than 42%
Petersham differs from Massachusetts on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 01366. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Petersham
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Petersham
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.7%), vs 8.5% across Massachusetts. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.7%), vs 5.8% across Massachusetts. Arthritis is also above the state: 33.7%, vs 25.4% across Massachusetts. In all, Petersham runs above Massachusetts on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 31% of residents are 65 or older (Massachusetts 18%), and cancer, heart disease and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Petersham’s lead shrinks
Petersham is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns, but 42% of the 7,020 towns with similar household incomes ($83K–$138K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Petersham, and more people treating it
39.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Massachusetts 30.9%), but 80.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.4% statewide. Checkups ↓
Petersham keeps up with checkups
It beats Massachusetts on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (84.3% vs 80.9%) and dentist visits (73.7% vs 69.8%). Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Massachusetts figure falls outside Petersham’s likely range; Petersham’s figures come from ZIP code 01366, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Petersham’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Petersham is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 73% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 48%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Petersham’s median household income is $110,750; among the 7,020 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($83K–$138K), it’s healthier than 42%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Petersham adults…
Petersham runs below MA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Petersham is an older town: 31% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Massachusetts. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Petersham as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Petersham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Care in and near Petersham
No hospital or community health center in Petersham itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Petersham; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
74 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves
How Petersham adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Petersham does better than Massachusetts.
3 in 10 Petersham adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12% of Petersham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Petersham and the towns around it
Petersham’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Petersham adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Petersham
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Petersham is better than Massachusetts on 11 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Petersham’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Petersham | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.9%14.4–19.6 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.5–16.3 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.8–17.7 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.2%28.9–37.8 | 27.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12%10.4–13.7 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.1%35.9–42.3 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.5%37.4–43.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 33.7%30.9–36.7 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.3%11.1–13.6 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.7%10.5–12.8 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.7–8.7 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.7%6.3–9.1 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.2–4.2 | 3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.7%6.2–9.3 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.2%9.8–14.9 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.7%19.1–26.5 | 21.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%14.3–18.6 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.2%28.4–35.8 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 3.4%2.7–4.4 | 5.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.3%82.1–86.3 | 80.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.7%71–76.1 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92.4%91.1–93.6 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.1%77.5–82.7 | 75.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.6%71.1–77.5 | 68.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 85.6%81.1–88.9 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.7%23.1–28.7 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.8%27.5–34.1 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.2%18.3–24 | 23.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.6%7.6–11.6 | 12.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8%6.6–9.5 | 11.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6%5–7 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6%5.1–7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12%9.4–14.6 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.9%25.3–32.6 | 27.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.7%11.6–16 | 11.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.7%11–14.7 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.5–8.3 | 6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.4–4.5 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6.1–8.4 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%2.9–4 | 3.1% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Massachusetts figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Petersham
Is Petersham a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Petersham is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Petersham?
CDC estimates 33.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.9% and 37.8%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Petersham?
Athol Memorial Hospital in Athol, 8.8 miles in a straight line from Petersham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Petersham have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 3.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 2.7–4.4%), against 5.2% across Massachusetts.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Petersham more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Petersham.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Massachusetts figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.