What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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	Sandisfield	Peru
People
Population	994Highest	630Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.9±7.5Lowest 25% above MA	52.6±4.8Highest 32% 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	14%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.3%±3.5Highest 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+	28%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.7%±6.9Highest 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+	26%Lowest MA: 47.3%	28%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.8%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±2Lowest 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	$91,111±$23kHighest 12% below MA	$90,750±$18kLowest 13% 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	$360,300±$34kHighest 36% below MA	$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,250±$220 29% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,328Lowest 44% below MA	$3,805Highest 36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest 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	96.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	16.5%±8Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±4.8Lowest 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.