What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

Sandwich has the most expensive homes ($601k median).

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	Deerfield	Sandwich
People
Population	5,158Lowest	20,522Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±3.6 30% above MA	51.8±1.8 30% above MA
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	17.3%±2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sandwich and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sandwich and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	51.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Deerfield and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average	$122,486±$12kHighest 18% above MA
	Sandwich and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA	$601,400±$26kHighest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA	$1,751±$121Highest about the MA average
	Sandwich and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Lowest about the MA average	$6,483Highest 8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	31.9%±13.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sandwich and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest MA: 10%	7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 40% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Deerfield and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#156 of 282 in MA	#77 of 282 in MA
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Sandwich
High school in town	Frontier Regional	Sandwich Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.