Dana Common Historic and Archaeological District · Public domainIn Petersham, 87% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Massachusetts
Petersham’s town government spent $4.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $3,622 per resident.
What stands out about how Petersham is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$3,622 per resident in 2022: more than 68% of them
Petersham’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($3,622 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 31 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that run their own schools: the median was $3,447, and the middle half spent $2,791–$4,298. Petersham spent more than 68% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Petersham itself left out).
About $3,622 per resident a year, or $9.92 a day
Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 55% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Petersham runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that run their own schools.
No trend yet
Petersham reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $4,636 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.18% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Petersham’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.
Tax bills are one input to Petersham’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Petersham →
Who’s in charge in Petersham
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time town employee for every 33 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (1,237).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Ralph C. Mahar School District
Petersham’s middle and high school district, shared with New Salem, Orange, Wendell. The schools are run by Petersham, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $30,875 per pupil, $16,631 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.
Petersham School District · $20,895 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Petersham voted in 2024
Official results for Petersham’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat57.9%518 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican39.3%352 votesOthers: 2.8% (25 votes).
Most votes in Petersham: Kamala D Harris
Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Petersham’s 1,025 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Petersham: Elizabeth Ann Warren
Worcester County: Warren 51.9%, Deaton 48.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: James P Mc Govern
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Petersham, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petersham | 57.9% | 39.3% | 2.8% | 895 |
| Worcester County | 53.6% | 43.7% | 2.7% | 420,841 |
| Massachusetts | 61.2% | 36.0% | 2.8% | 3,473,668 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Petersham.
- 1Your townTown governmentLocal officials aren’t on record yet.
- 2Massachusetts HouseState representatives
- 3Massachusetts SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Petersham compares with the towns next door
Petersham spent $3,622 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,522 to $4,014. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| New Salem | $1,522 runs schools | $4,509 |
| Athol | $1,633 | $3,403 |
| Phillipston | $1,841 | $3,914 |
| Hardwick | $2,473 runs schools | $4,400 |
| Ware | $4,014 runs schools | $4,237 |
| Petersham | $3,622 | $4,636 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Petersham’s government
Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.
Questions about Petersham’s government
How much does Petersham spend per resident?
About $3,622 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $3,622 was more than 68% of 31 Massachusetts towns and townships of under 2,500 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Petersham?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,636 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.18% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.
Who runs Petersham’s government?
We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Petersham yet.
How did Petersham vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 57.9%, Donald J Trump 39.3% (895 votes, official results). Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Petersham?
37 full-time and 85 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $302,950 (about $3.6M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Petersham in the state legislature?
State Senate District Hampshire-Franklin-Worcester (Jo Comerford) and State House District 7th Hampden (Aaron Saunders). The House district also covers six other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Petersham’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →