Compare towns

Peru vs Middlefield vs Blandford

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 kids (16.3% under 18).
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($333k median).
Blandford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

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.

MeasurePeruMiddlefieldBlandford
People
Population
630
352Lowest
1,156Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%
MA: +7.4%
-26.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
-1.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52.6±4.8Lowest
32% above MA
56.9±3.7Highest
42% above MA
52.9±4.3
32% above MA
Middlefield and Blandford 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%
4.5%±9.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
13.1%±2.8
MA: 19.4%
Peru and Blandford 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%
28.7%±8.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
30.8%±3.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Blandford 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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
31.8%
MA: 47.3%
34.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.8%±4.8
MA: 7.9%
2%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Peru and Middlefield 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
$103,750±$23kHighest
about the MA average
$91,902±$13k
12% below MA
Middlefield and Blandford 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
$332,800±$48kHighest
41% below MA
$287,900±$18k
49% below MA
Middlefield and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,625±$1kHighest
49% above MA
$1,047±$459Lowest
41% below MA
Middlefield and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,805
36% below MA
$4,926Highest
18% below MA
$3,641Lowest
39% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
29.4%±100
MA: 51.8%
Middlefield and Blandford 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%
12.2%Highest
MA: 10%
5.5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
94.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
96.8%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
19 yrs newer than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
1966Lowest
2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
7% above MA
30 minLowest
about the MA average
36 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
10.3%±4.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
13.2%±9.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.8%±4.2
MA: 18.6%
Middlefield and Blandford 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 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.