Compare towns
Peru vs Berlin vs Sandisfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Sandisfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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.
| Measure | Peru | Berlin | Sandisfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630Lowest |
3,378Highest |
994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
49.9±7.5 25% above MA |
| Peru and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Peru and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
28%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.8%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sandisfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$91,111±$23k 12% below MA |
| Berlin and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$360,300±$34k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,250±$220Lowest 29% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 36% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$3,328Lowest 44% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sandisfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Sandisfield 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Berlin-Boylston | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.