What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monterey has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.9%).

Sandisfield has the most affordable homes ($360k 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	Monterey	Sandisfield
People
Population	954Lowest	994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	62.3±14Highest 56% above MA	49.9±7.5Lowest 25% above MA
	Monterey and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	14%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sandisfield and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	43.5%±13.2Highest MA: 17.9%	28%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Monterey and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	26%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±4.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.8%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sandisfield and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,353±$89kHighest 47% above MA	$91,111±$23kLowest 12% below MA
	Monterey and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,200±$57kHighest 7% above MA	$360,300±$34kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,762±$128Highest about the MA average	$1,250±$220Lowest 29% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,858Lowest 52% below MA	$3,328Highest 44% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±85.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	66.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sandisfield and Monterey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	96.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 22% below MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	23.6%±16.3Highest MA: 18.6%	16.5%±8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Monterey and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.