What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).

Sandisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

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	Peru	Sandisfield
People
Population	630Lowest	994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA	49.9±7.5Lowest 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%	14%±2.9Lowest 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%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9%	28%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Peru and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28%Highest MA: 47.3%	26%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.8%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sandisfield and Peru 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	$91,111±$23kHighest 12% below MA
	Sandisfield and Peru 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	$360,300±$34kHighest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,250±$220 29% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,805Highest 36% below MA	$3,328Lowest 44% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	66.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sandisfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2% MA: 10%	3.2% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	96.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA	1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.5%±8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sandisfield and Peru 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.